Mobile terminal and method of controlling a mode switching therein

ABSTRACT

A mobile terminal including a communication unit configured to communicate with at least one external terminal; a memory configured to store at least first and second operating systems including at least first and second modes, respectively; and a controller configured to execute the first operating system and to activate the first mode corresponding to the first operating system, to display a first information screen on a display unit corresponding to the activated first mode, to receive a switching signal indicating the first mode is to be switched to the second mode, to attempt to switch to the second mode based on the received switching signal, and to restrict a specific application executing in the first mode when the second mode is not switched to.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/425,751 filed on Dec. 21, 2010, which is hereby incorporated byreferences as if fully set forth herein. This application also claimsthe benefit of the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0009753 filedon Jan. 31, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fullyset forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and moreparticularly, to a mobile terminal and method of controlling a modeswitching therein. Although the present invention is suitable for a widescope of applications, it is particularly suitable for the mobileterminal to implement a plurality of modes of the mobile terminal.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Generally, terminals can be classified into mobile/portable terminalsand stationary terminals. The mobile terminals can be classified intohandheld terminals and vehicle mount terminals again according topossibility of user's direct portability.

As functions of the terminal are diversified, the terminal isimplemented as a multimedia player provided with composite functionssuch as photographing of photos or moving pictures, playback of music ormoving picture files, game play, broadcast reception and the like forexample.

To support and increase of the terminal functions, it may be able toconsider the improvement of structural part and/or software part of theterminal.

Recently, a mobile terminal tends to be used for a business need as wellas a personal need. In addition, it is necessary to implement the mobileterminal suitable for both of the personal need and the business need.Moreover, the demand for using the mobile terminal for the purpose ofthe personal need or the business need separately keeps rising.

However, a mobile terminal according to a related art fails in providingan environment in which the mobile terminal can be separately used forthe purpose of the personal need or the business need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a mobile terminal andmethod of controlling a mode switching therein that substantiallyobviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of therelated art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal andmethod of controlling a mode switching therein, by which a plurality ofmodes can be individually implemented and activated for user'sconvenience and data security in a manner of being discriminated fromeach other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminaland method of controlling a mode switching therein, by which a modeswitching can be effectively performed among a plurality of modes (e.g.,a personal mode, a business mode, etc.) through a mode managementsolution loaded in the mobile terminal.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mobileterminal and method of controlling a mode switching therein, by whichinformation corresponding to each of a plurality of modes can be safelymanaged.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminaland method of controlling a mode switching therein, by which a functionexecution of a specific application can be restricted when a modeswitching is not performed in a situation that the mode switching shouldbe performed.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, amobile terminal according to the present invention includes at least oneoperating system capable of implementing a plurality of modes includinga first mode and a second mode, at least one application runnable in atleast one of a plurality of the modes, a controller detecting a signalfor a mode switching in an activated state of the first mode, thecontroller controlling a switching from the first mode to the secondmode in accordance with the detection of the signal, the controller, ifthe second mode is not switched to, restricting a function execution ofa specific one of at least one or more applications runnable in thefirst mode, and a display unit displaying a user interface required forexecuting at least one of a voice based communication and a text basedcommunication in an activated state of a prescribed one of a pluralityof the modes under the control of the controller.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling amode switching in a mobile terminal, which is capable of implementing aplurality of modes including a first mode and a second mode, includesthe steps of activating the first mode, detecting a signal for the modeswitching to the second mode, controlling a switching to the second modefrom the first mode in accordance with the detection of the signal forthe mode switching, and if the second mode is not switched to,restricting a function execution of a specific one of at least one ormore applications runnable in the first mode. In addition, the mobileterminal includes at least one operating system capable of implementingthe first mode and the second mode and at least one application runnablein at least one of the first mode and the second mode. Moreover, themobile terminal displays a user interface required for executing atleast one of a voice based communication and a text based communicationin an activated state of a prescribed one of a plurality of the modes.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides a mobileterminal including a communication unit configured to communicate withat least one external terminal; a memory configured to store at least afirst and second operating system including at least first and secondmodes, respectively; and a controller configured to execute the firstoperating system and to activate the first mode corresponding to thefirst operating system, to display a first information screen on adisplay unit corresponding to the activated first mode, to receive aswitching signal indicating the first mode is to be switched to thesecond mode, to attempt to switch to the second mode based on thereceived switching signal, and to restrict a specific applicationexecuting in the first mode when the second mode is not switched to. Thepresent invention also provides a corresponding method of controlling amobile terminal.

Accordingly, the present invention provides the following effects and/oradvantages.

First of all, the present invention can effectively perform a modeswitching to enable a mode suitable for a current terminal status (e.g.,location, time, access network, etc.) to be activated among a pluralityof modes.

Secondly, the present invention performs data storage and management ofeach of a plurality of modes separately, thereby reinforcing inter-modedata security.

Thirdly, when a mode switching is not performed in a situation that themode switching should be performed, the present invention restricts afunction execution of a specific application, thereby fortifying asecurity of an information related to the specific application.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a front perspective diagram of a mobile terminal according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a rear perspective diagram of a mobile terminal according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3C are block diagrams of components required forimplementation of a plurality of modes and a mode switching among aplurality of the modes according to the present invention;

FIGS. 4A to 4C are block diagrams of components required for operating aplurality of operating system for implementing a plurality of modesaccording to the present invention;

FIGS. 5A to 10C are diagrams for discriminating a plurality of modesaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a first flowchart for a method of controlling a modeswitching in a mobile terminal according to the present invention;

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B are flowcharts of a process for switching a modeper type in multiple operation systems according to the presentinvention;

FIGS. 13A to 13C are diagrams for when a mode switching is not performedaccording to the present invention;

FIGS. 14A to 14D are diagrams for restricting an application indicatordisplay when a mode switching is not performed, according to the presentinvention;

FIGS. 15A to 15F are diagrams for restricting a function execution of aspecific application selected by a user when a mode switching is notperformed, according to the present invention;

FIGS. 16A to 16C are diagrams for restricting a function execution of aspecific application when a mode switching is not performed whilerunning the specific application, according to the present invention;

FIGS. 17A to 18D are diagrams of a mode switching process when receivinga mode switching command signal from a user according to the presentinvention;

FIGS. 19A to 19D are diagrams of a mode switching process when beinglocated at a specific place according to the present invention;

FIGS. 20A to 20D are diagrams of a mode switching process when belongingto a specific time according to the present invention;

FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B are diagrams of a mode switching process whenaccessing a specific network according to the present invention;

FIGS. 22A to 23C are diagrams of a mode switching process when receivingdata from a specific counterpart terminal according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 24A to 25B are diagrams of a mode switching process whentransmitting data to a specific counterpart terminal according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B are diagrams of a data structure including a datafield for determining a specific counterpart terminal in FIGS. 22A to25B;

FIG. 27 is a second flowchart for a method of controlling a modeswitching in a mobile terminal according to the present invention;

FIG. 28A and FIG. 28B are diagrams of a process for switching a modewhile executing a common application according to the present invention;and

FIGS. 29A to 29C are diagrams of a process for switching a mode whileexecuting a dedicated application according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawing figures which form a part hereof, and which show byway of illustration specific embodiments of the invention. It is to beunderstood by those of ordinary skill in this technological field thatother embodiments may be utilized, and structural, electrical, as wellas procedural changes may be made without departing from the scope ofthe present invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numberswill be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similarparts.

First of all, mobile terminals described in this disclosure can includea mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcastterminal, a PDA (personal digital assistants), a PMP (portablemultimedia player), a navigation system and the like.

Except a case applicable to a mobile terminal only, it is apparent tothose skilled in the art that the configurations according to anembodiment described in this disclosure is applicable to such astationary terminal as a digital TV, a desktop computer and the like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile terminal 100 according to one embodimentof the present invention includes a wireless communication unit 110, anA/V (audio/video) input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, an interface unit 170, acontroller 180, a power supply unit 190 and the like. FIG. 1 shows themobile terminal 100 having various components, but it is understood thatimplementing all of the illustrated components is not a requirement.Greater or fewer components may alternatively be implemented.

In the following description, the above elements of the mobile terminal100 are explained in sequence.

First of all, the wireless communication unit 110 typically includes oneor more components which permits wireless communication between themobile terminal 100 and a wireless communication system or networkwithin which the mobile terminal 100 is located. For instance, thewireless communication unit 110 can include a broadcast receiving module111, a mobile communication module 112, a wireless internet module 113,a short-range communication module 114, a position-location module 115and the like.

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives a broadcast signal and/orbroadcast associated information from an external broadcast managingserver via a broadcast channel.

The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and a terrestrialchannel.

The broadcast managing server generally refers to a server whichgenerates and transmits a broadcast signal and/or broadcast associatedinformation or a server which is provided with a previously generatedbroadcast signal and/or broadcast associated information and thentransmits the provided signal or information to a terminal. Thebroadcast signal may be implemented as a TV broadcast signal, a radiobroadcast signal, and a data broadcast signal, among others. If desired,the broadcast signal may further include a broadcast signal combinedwith a TV or radio broadcast signal.

The broadcast associated information includes information associatedwith a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, a broadcast serviceprovider, etc. In addition, the broadcast associated information can beprovided via a mobile communication network. In this instance, thebroadcast associated information can be received by the mobilecommunication module 112.

The broadcast associated information can be implemented in variousforms. For instance, broadcast associated information may include anelectronic program guide (EPG) of digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB)and electronic service guide (ESG) of digital video broadcast-handheld(DVB-H).

The broadcast receiving module 111 may be configured to receivebroadcast signals transmitted from various types of broadcast systems.By nonlimiting example, such broadcasting systems include digitalmultimedia broadcasting-terrestrial (DMB-T), digital multimediabroadcasting-satellite (DMB-S), digital video broadcast-handheld(DVB-H), the data broadcasting system known as media forward link only(MediaFLO®) and integrated services digital broadcast-terrestrial(ISDB-T). Optionally, the broadcast receiving module 111 can beconfigured suitable for other broadcasting systems as well as theabove-explained digital broadcasting systems.

The broadcast signal and/or broadcast associated information received bythe broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in a suitable device,such as a memory 160.

The mobile communication module 112 transmits/receives wireless signalsto/from one or more network entities (e.g., base station, externalterminal, server, etc.). Such wireless signals may represent audio,video, and data according to text/multimedia message transceivings,among others.

The wireless internet module 113 supports Internet access for the mobileterminal 100. This module may be internally or externally coupled to themobile terminal 100. In this instance, the wireless Internet technologycan include WLAN (Wireless LAN), Wi-Fi, Wibro (Wireless broadband),Wimax (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High SpeedDownlink Packet Access), etc.

The short-range communication module 114 facilitates relativelyshort-range communications. Suitable technologies for implementing thismodule include radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared dataassociation (IrDA), ultra-wideband (UWB), as well at the networkingtechnologies commonly referred to as Bluetooth and ZigBee, to name afew.

The position-location module 115 identifies or otherwise obtains thelocation of the mobile terminal 100. If desired, this module may beimplemented with a global positioning system (GPS) module.

Referring to FIG. 1, the audio/video (A/V) input unit 120 is configuredto provide audio or video signal input to the mobile terminal 100. Asshown, the A/V input unit 120 includes a camera 121 and a microphone122. The camera 121 receives and processes image frames of stillpictures or video, which are obtained by an image sensor in a video callmode or a photographing mode. In addition, the processed image framescan be displayed on the display unit 151.

The image frames processed by the camera 121 can be stored in the memory160 or can be externally transmitted via the wireless communication unit110. Optionally, at least two cameras 121 can be provided to the mobileterminal 100 according to environment of usage.

The microphone 122 receives an external audio signal while the portabledevice is in a particular mode, such as phone call mode, recording modeand voice recognition. This audio signal is processed and converted intoelectric audio data. The processed audio data is transformed into aformat transmittable to a mobile communication base station via themobile communication module 112 when a call mode. The microphone 122typically includes assorted noise removing algorithms to remove noisegenerated while receiving the external audio signal.

The user input unit 130 generates input data responsive to usermanipulation of an associated input device or devices. Examples of suchdevices include a keypad, a dome switch, a touchpad (e.g., staticpressure/capacitance), a jog wheel, a jog switch, etc.

The sensing unit 140 provides sensing signals for controlling operationsof the mobile terminal 100 using status measurements of various aspectsof the mobile terminal. For instance, the sensing unit 140 may detect anopen/close status of the mobile terminal 100, relative positioning ofcomponents (e.g., a display and keypad) of the mobile terminal 100, achange of position of the mobile terminal 100 or a component of themobile terminal 100, a presence or absence of user contact with themobile terminal 100, orientation or acceleration/deceleration of themobile terminal 100. As an example, consider the mobile terminal 100being configured as a slide-type mobile terminal. In this configuration,the sensing unit 140 may sense whether a sliding portion of the mobileterminal is open or closed. Other examples include the sensing unit 140sensing the presence or absence of power provided by the power supply190, the presence or absence of a coupling or other connection betweenthe interface unit 170 and an external device. In addition, the sensingunit 140 can include a proximity sensor 141.

The output unit 150 generates outputs relevant to the senses of sight,hearing, touch and the like. In addition, the output unit 150 includesthe display unit 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm unit 153, ahaptic module 154, a projector module 155 and the like.

The display unit 151 is typically implemented to visually display(output) information associated with the mobile terminal 100. Forinstance, if the mobile terminal is operating in a phone call mode, thedisplay will generally provide a user interface (UI) or graphical userinterface (GUI) which includes information associated with placing,conducting, and terminating a phone call. As another example, if themobile terminal 100 is in a video call mode or a photographing mode, thedisplay unit 151 may additionally or alternatively display images whichare associated with these modes, the UI or the GUI.

The display module 151 may be implemented using known displaytechnologies including, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), athin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), an organiclight-emitting diode display (OLED), a flexible display and athree-dimensional display. The mobile terminal 100 may include one ormore of such displays.

Some of the above displays can be implemented in a transparent oroptical transmittive type, which can be named a transparent display. Asa representative example for the transparent display, there is TOLED(transparent OLED) or the like. A rear configuration of the display unit151 can be implemented in the optical transmittive type as well. In thisconfiguration, a user can see an object in rear of a terminal body viathe area occupied by the display unit 151 of the terminal body.

At least two display units 151 can be provided to the mobile terminal100 in accordance with the implemented configuration of the mobileterminal 100. For instance, a plurality of display units can be arrangedon a single face of the mobile terminal 100 in a manner of being spacedapart from each other or being built in one body. Alternatively, aplurality of display units can be arranged on different faces of themobile terminal 100.

When the display unit 151 and a sensor for detecting a touch action(hereinafter called ‘touch sensor’) configures a mutual layer structure(hereinafter called ‘touchscreen’), it can use the display unit 151 asan input device as well as an output device. In this instance, the touchsensor can be configured as a touch film, a touch sheet, a touchpad orthe like.

The touch sensor can be configured to convert a pressure applied to aspecific portion of the display unit 151 or a variation of a capacitancegenerated from a specific portion of the display unit 151 to an electricinput signal. Moreover, it can configure the touch sensor to detect apressure of a touch as well as a touched position or size.

If a touch input is made to the touch sensor, signal(s) corresponding tothe touch is transferred to a touch controller. The touch controllerprocesses the signal(s) and then transfers the processed signal(s) tothe controller 180. Therefore, the controller 180 can know whether aprescribed portion of the display unit 151 is touched.

Referring to FIG. 1, a proximity sensor 141 can be provided to aninternal area of the mobile terminal 100 enclosed by the touchscreen oraround the touchscreen. The proximity sensor 141 is the sensor thatdetects a presence or non-presence of an object approaching a prescribeddetecting surface or an object existing around the proximity sensor 141using an electromagnetic field strength or infrared ray withoutmechanical contact. Hence, the proximity sensor 141 has durabilitylonger than that of a contact type sensor and also has utility widerthan that of the contact type sensor.

The proximity sensor 141 can include one of a transmittive photoelectricsensor, a direct reflective photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflectivephotoelectric sensor, a radio frequency oscillation proximity sensor, anelectrostatic capacity proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, aninfrared proximity sensor and the like. When the touchscreen includesthe electrostatic capacity proximity sensor, it is configured to detectthe proximity of a pointer using a variation of electric field accordingto the proximity of the pointer. In this instance, the touchscreen(touch sensor) can be classified as the proximity sensor.

In the following description, for clarity, an action that a pointerapproaches without contacting with the touchscreen to be recognized aslocated on the touchscreen is named ‘proximity touch’. In addition, anaction that a pointer actually touches the touchscreen is named ‘contacttouch’. The meaning of the position on the touchscreen proximity-touchedby the pointer means the position of the pointer which verticallyopposes the touchscreen when the pointer performs the proximity touch.

The proximity sensor 141 detects a proximity touch and a proximity touchpattern (e.g., a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch duration, aproximity touch position, a proximity touch shift state, etc.). Inaddition, information corresponding to the detected proximity touchaction and the detected proximity touch pattern can be outputted to thetouchscreen.

The audio output module 152 functions in various modes including acall-receiving mode, a call-placing mode, a recording mode, a voicerecognition mode, a broadcast reception mode and the like to outputaudio data which is received from the wireless communication unit 110 oris stored in the memory 160. During operation, the audio output module152 outputs audio relating to a particular function (e.g., callreceived, message received, etc.). The audio output module 152 is oftenimplemented using one or more speakers, buzzers, other audio producingdevices, and combinations thereof.

The alarm unit 153 is output a signal for announcing the occurrence of aparticular event associated with the mobile terminal 100. Typical eventsinclude a call received event, a message received event and a touchinput received event. The alarm unit 153 can output a signal forannouncing the event occurrence by way of vibration as well as video oraudio signal. The video or audio signal can be outputted via the displayunit 151 or the audio output unit 152. Hence, the display unit 151 orthe audio output module 152 can be regarded as a part of the alarm unit153.

The haptic module 154 generates various tactile effects that can besensed by a user. Vibration is a representative one of the tactileeffects generated by the haptic module 154. Strength and pattern of thevibration generated by the haptic module 154 are controllable. Forinstance, different vibrations can be outputted in a manner of beingsynthesized together or can be outputted in sequence.

The haptic module 154 can generate various tactile effects as well asthe vibration. For instance, the haptic module 154 generates the effectattributed to the arrangement of pins vertically moving against acontact skin surface, the effect attributed to the injection/suctionpower of air though an injection/suction hole, the effect attributed tothe skim over a skin surface, the effect attributed to the contact withelectrode, the effect attributed to the electrostatic force, the effectattributed to the representation of hold/cold sense using an endothermicor exothermic device and the like.

The haptic module 154 can be implemented to enable a user to sense thetactile effect through a muscle sense of finger, arm or the like as wellas to transfer the tactile effect through a direct contact. Optionally,at least two haptic modules 154 can be provided to the mobile terminal100 in accordance with the corresponding configuration type of themobile terminal 100.

The projector module 155 is the element for performing an imageprojector function using the mobile terminal 100. In addition, theprojector module 155 can display an image, which is identical to orpartially different at least from the image displayed on the displayunit 151, on an external screen or wall according to a control signal ofthe controller 180.

In particular, the projector module 155 can include a light sourcegenerating light (e.g., laser) for projecting an image externally, animage producing mechanism for producing an image to output externallyusing the light generated from the light source, and a lens forenlarging to output the image externally in a predetermined focusdistance. In addition, the projector module 155 can further include adevice for adjusting an image projected direction by mechanically movingthe lens or the whole module.

The projector module 155 can be classified into a CRT (cathode ray tube)module, an LCD (liquid crystal display) module, a DLP (digital lightprocessing) module or the like according to a device type of a displaymeans. In particular, the DLP module is operated by the mechanism ofenabling the light generated from the light source to reflect on a DMD(digital micro-mirror device) chip and can be advantageous for thedownsizing of the projector module 151.

Preferably, the projector module 155 can be provided in a lengthdirection of a lateral, front or backside direction of the mobileterminal 100. In addition, it is understood that the projector module155 can be provided to any portion of the mobile terminal 100 accordingto the necessity thereof.

The memory unit 160 is generally used to store various types of data tosupport the processing, control, and storage requirements of the mobileterminal 100. Examples of such data include program instructions forapplications operating on the mobile terminal 100, contact data,phonebook data, messages, audio, still pictures, moving pictures, etc.In addition, a recent use history or a cumulative use frequency of eachdata (e.g., use frequency for each phonebook, each message or eachmultimedia) can be stored in the memory unit 160. Moreover, data forvarious patterns of vibration and/or sound outputted when a touch inputto the touchscreen can be stored in the memory unit 160.

The memory 160 may be implemented using any type or combination ofsuitable volatile and non-volatile memory or storage devices includinghard disk, random access memory (RAM), static random access memory(SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM),erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-onlymemory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic memory, flash memory,magnetic or optical disk, multimedia card micro type memory, card-typememory (e.g., SD memory, XD memory, etc.), or other similar memory ordata storage device. In addition, the mobile terminal 100 can operate inassociation with a web storage for performing a storage function of thememory 160 on Internet.

The interface unit 170 is often implemented to couple the mobileterminal 100 with external devices. The interface unit 170 receives datafrom the external devices or is supplied with the power and thentransfers the data or power to the respective elements of the mobileterminal 100 or enables data within the mobile terminal 100 to betransferred to the external devices. The interface unit 170 may beconfigured using a wired/wireless headset port, an external chargerport, a wired/wireless data port, a memory card port, a port forcoupling to a device having an identity module, audio input/outputports, video input/output ports, an earphone port and/or the like.

The identity module is the chip for storing various kinds of informationfor authenticating a use authority of the mobile terminal 100 and caninclude User Identify Module (UIM), Subscriber Identify Module (SIM),Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) and/or the like. A devicehaving the identity module (hereinafter called ‘identity device’) can bemanufactured as a smart card. Therefore, the identity device isconnectible to the mobile terminal 100 via the corresponding port.

When the mobile terminal 110 is connected to an external cradle, theinterface unit 170 becomes a passage for supplying the mobile terminal100 with a power from the cradle or a passage for delivering variouscommand signals inputted from the cradle by a user to the mobileterminal 100. Each of the various command signals inputted from thecradle or the power can operate as a signal enabling the mobile terminal100 to recognize that it is correctly loaded in the cradle.

The controller 180 typically controls the overall operations of themobile terminal 100. For example, the controller 180 performs thecontrol and processing associated with voice calls, data communications,video calls, etc. The controller 180 may include a multimedia module 181that provides multimedia playback. The multimedia module 181 may beconfigured as part of the controller 180, or implemented as a separatecomponent.

Moreover, the controller 180 can perform a pattern recognizing processfor recognizing a writing input and a picture drawing input carried outon the touchscreen as characters or images, respectively.

The power supply unit 190 provides power required by the variouscomponents for the mobile terminal 100. The power may be internal power,external power, or combinations thereof.

Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in acomputer-readable medium using, for example, computer software,hardware, or some combination thereof. For a hardware implementation,the embodiments described herein may be implemented within one or moreapplication specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signalprocessors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs),programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors,other electronic units designed to perform the functions describedherein, or a selective combination thereof. Such embodiments may also beimplemented by the controller 180.

For a software implementation, the embodiments described herein may beimplemented with separate software modules, such as procedures andfunctions, each of which perform one or more of the functions andoperations described herein. The software codes can be implemented witha software application written in any suitable programming language andmay be stored in memory such as the memory 160, and executed by acontroller or processor, such as the controller 180.

FIG. 2A is a front perspective diagram of a mobile terminal according toone embodiment of the present invention.

The mobile terminal 100 shown in the drawing has a bar type terminalbody. Yet, the mobile terminal 100 may be implemented in a variety ofdifferent configurations. Examples of such configurations includefolder-type, slide-type, rotational-type, swing-type and combinationsthereof. For clarity, further disclosure will primarily relate to abar-type mobile terminal 100. However such teachings apply equally toother types of mobile terminals.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the mobile terminal 100 includes a case (casing,housing, cover, etc.) configuring an exterior thereof. In the presentembodiment, the case can be divided into a front case 101 and a rearcase 102. Various electric/electronic parts are loaded in a spaceprovided between the front and rear cases 101 and 102. Optionally, atleast one middle case can be further provided between the front and rearcases 101 and 102 in addition.

The cases 101 and 102 are formed by injection molding of synthetic resinor can be formed of metal substance such as stainless steel (STS),titanium (Ti) or the like for example.

A display unit 151, an audio output unit 152, a camera 121, user inputunits 130/131 and 132, a microphone 122, an interface 180 and the likecan be provided to the terminal body, and more particularly, to thefront case 101.

The display unit 151 occupies most of a main face of the front case 101.The audio output unit 151 and the camera 121 are provided to an areaadjacent to one of both end portions of the display unit 151, while theuser input unit 131 and the microphone 122 are provided to another areaadjacent to the other end portion of the display unit 151. The userinput unit 132 and the interface 170 can be provided to lateral sides ofthe front and rear cases 101 and 102.

The input unit 130 is manipulated to receive a command for controllingan operation of the terminal 100. In addition, the input unit 130 caninclude a plurality of manipulating units 131 and 132. The manipulatingunits 131 and 132 can be named a manipulating portion and may adopt anymechanism of a tactile manner that enables a user to perform amanipulation action by experiencing a tactile feeling.

Content inputted by the first or second manipulating unit 131 or 132 canbe diversely set. For instance, such a command as start, end, scroll andthe like is inputted to the first manipulating unit 131. In addition, acommand for a volume adjustment of sound outputted from the audio outputunit 152, a command for a switching to a touch recognizing mode of thedisplay unit 151 or the like can be inputted to the second manipulatingunit 132.

FIG. 2B is a perspective diagram of a backside of the terminal shown inFIG. 2A.

Referring to FIG. 2B, a camera 121′ can be additionally provided to abackside of the terminal body, and more particularly, to the rear case102. The camera 121 has a photographing direction that is substantiallyopposite to that of the former camera 121 shown in FIG. 21A and may havepixels differing from those of the firmer camera 121.

Preferably, for instance, the former camera 121 has low pixels enough tocapture and transmit a picture of user's face for a video call, whilethe latter camera 121′ has high pixels for capturing a general subjectfor photography without transmitting the captured subject. In addition,each of the cameras 121 and 121′ can be installed at the terminal bodyto be rotated or popped up.

A flash 123 and a mirror 124 are additionally provided adjacent to thecamera 121′. The flash 123 projects light toward a subject whenphotographing the subject using the camera 121′. When a user attempts totake a picture of the user (self-photography) using the camera 121′, themirror 124 enables the user to view user's face reflected by the mirror124.

An additional audio output unit 152′ can be provided to the backside ofthe terminal body. The additional audio output unit 152′ can implement astereo function together with the former audio output unit 152 shown inFIG. 2A and may be used for implementation of a speakerphone mode intalking over the terminal.

A broadcast signal receiving antenna 124 can be additionally provided tothe lateral side of the terminal body as well as an antenna forcommunication or the like. The antenna 124 constructing a portion of thebroadcast receiving module 111 shown in FIG. 1 can be retractablyprovided to the terminal body.

A power supply unit 190 for supplying a power to the terminal 100 isprovided to the terminal body. In addition, the power supply unit 190can be configured to be built within the terminal body. Alternatively,the power supply unit 190 can be configured to be detachably connectedto the terminal body.

A touchpad 135 for detecting a touch can be additionally provided to therear case 102. The touchpad 135 can be configured in a lighttransmittive type like the display unit 151. In this instance, if thedisplay unit 151 is configured to output visual information from itsboth faces, it can recognize the visual information via the touchpad 135as well. The information outputted from both of the faces can beentirely controlled by the touchpad 135. Alternatively, a display isfurther provided to the touchpad 135 so that a touchscreen can beprovided to the rear case 102 as well.

The touchpad 135 is activated by interconnecting with the display unit151 of the front case 101. The touchpad 135 can be provided in rear ofthe display unit 151 in parallel. The touchpad 135 can have a size equalto or smaller than that of the display unit 151.

First of all, a mobile terminal mentioned in the following descriptioncan include at least one of the components shown in FIG. 1. In addition,in order to perform an operation using the components (e.g.,touchscreen, wireless communication unit, memory, etc.), the controller180 can control an individual operation of each of the components orinterconnected operations among a plurality of the components.

Applications mentioned in this disclosure are software programs drivablein a mobile terminal. If the application is driven, it can execute acorresponding function or operation. The application is basically storedin the mobile terminal (particularly, memory 160) or can be downloadedfrom an external server of an external terminal.

For example, the applications can include a compass, an augmentedreality, a camera, a video player, a music player, a game, a news, a webbrowser, a message, a phonebook, a memo, a schedule management, and thelike. Of course, the allocations are non-limited by this example and canbe implemented in more various ways.

There can exist contents or data associated with the applications aswell. In this instance, the associated content or data is stored in thememory 160 or can be stored in an external server having a storagespace.

For instance, the contents can include an audio file (associated withthe music player), a video file (associated with the video player), adocument file (associated with an e-book), and the like. In addition,the data can include a message content (associated with the message), amemo content (associated with the memo), a counterpart information(associated with the phonebook), a schedule content (associated with theschedule management), and the like.

According to the present invention, a mobile terminal can configure aplurality of modes differing from each other in applicationconfiguration for data security for one mode against another mode ordata security between different modes. In addition, the mobile terminalaccording to the present invention can implement a plurality of themodes selectively or simultaneously (or sequentially).

When a specific application is executed in a prescribed mode, at leastone application interoperable with the specific application can beexecuted in the prescribed mode. For instance, if a specific applicationis a voice call, an application interoperable with the voice call caninclude a phonebook, a message and the like.

Regarding mode discrimination in application configuration, anapplication executable in each of a plurality of modes can include atleast one application (hereinafter named a dedicated application)executable by being dedicated to each of a plurality of the modes or atleast one application (hereinafter named a common application)executable in any one of a plurality of the modes. In particular, thecommon application can change at least one feature in each of aplurality of the modes in which the corresponding application isexecutable. For instance, at least one of configuration, representation,security and the like of the common application is changeable. Thisshall be described in detail later.

Of course, the common application may not change its feature in each ofa plurality of the modes in which the corresponding application isexecutable. For instance, if the common application includes such abasic terminal application as a voice call, a message and the like, itmay not change its feature.

For example, if first to third applications are executed in a first modeand if the third application, a fourth application and a fifthapplication are executed in a second mode, the first and secondapplications, the third application and the fourth and fifth applicationcan be called the dedicated applications of the first mode, the commonapplication of the first and second modes and the dedicated applicationsof the second mode, respectively.

A plurality of modes can include a first mode (i.e., a private mode)facilitating user's personal life, a second mode (i.e., a business mode)facilitating a user's work life, and the like. This enables a mobileterminal to be discriminatively used in consideration of a user'spersonal life (e.g., privacy) and a user's public life (e.g., worklife). In particular, in aspect of security reinforcement, when either aprivate mode or a business mode is implemented, restriction can be puton an access to information corresponding to the other mode.

The above-described private mode and the business mode are just theexamples for describing a plurality of the modes. If the above-describedprivate mode and the business mode are suitable for the modediscrimination reference mentioned in this disclosure, they arenon-limited by their names. Although the mode discrimination of aplurality of the modes is explained in the above description based onthe application configuration, it shall be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings later.

Implementation and activation of a plurality of modes mentioned in thedescription of the present invention shall be defined as follows.

First of all, according to the present invention, a mobile terminal canimplement a plurality of modes all and is also able to activate one of aplurality of the currently implemented modes. For instance, if aplurality of the modes include a first mode and a second mode, themobile terminal boots an operating system capable of implementing bothof the first and second modes to implement and can then activate theimplemented first or second mode selectively.

In particular, if both of the first and second modes are alreadyimplemented, the mode for displaying an executed screen on a currentscreen, the mode for designating the currently executed application, themode having a high priority or the like can be called an activated mode.In this instance, a non-activated mode (or a deactivated mode) can beregarded as operating as a background despite being implemented in themobile terminal. In more particular, if an executed screen of the firstmode and an executed screen of the second mode are being displayed on afirst region and a second region of the screen through screen partition,respectively, the mode selected by a user, the mode for activating thecorresponding region currently, the mode for designating a currentlyexecuted application, the mode having a high priority or the like can beregarded as activated.

Occasionally, after the mobile terminal has implemented and activatedone mode, if the mobile terminal attempts to switch the current mode tothe other mode, the mobile terminal can implement and activate the othermode (i.e., selective implementation and activation of mode).

In the following description, implementation of a plurality of modes andoperations of components required for inter-mode switching for aplurality of the modes are explained in detail with reference o FIGS. 3Ato 4C.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are block diagrams of components required forimplementation of a plurality of modes and a mode switching among aplurality of the modes according to the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of a controller 180 for driving a pluralityof operating systems (OSs) and configuring a dedicated screen of aplurality of operating systems. In addition, FIG. 3B is a block diagramof a screen processor 185 shown in FIG. 3A. In particular, FIG. 3A andFIG. 3B show when a plurality of the operating systems are provided inparallel with each other (cf. FIG. 4A(a), FIG. 4B).

According to the present invention, a plurality of the modes can beimplemented by a plurality of the operating systems, respectively. Inparticular, the operating system for supporting implementation candiffer per mode.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a controller 180 can include a screen processor185, a driver 186, a hypervisor 187 and a main processor 188. In thisinstance, the hypervisor 187 can be called such a terminology as avirtual engine (virtual machine), a virtualizing module(virtualization), a virtual engine monitor (virtual machine monitor), avirtualization module monitor (virtualization monitor) and the like.This terminology is just exemplary. In addition, a component capable ofperforming the same function of the hypervisor 187 is non-limited by thecorresponding terminology.

A frame buffer is provided to each of a plurality of the operatingsystems stored in the memory 160. If a plurality of the operatingsystems are driven, the screen processor 185 receives a framecorresponding to a dedicated screen of the corresponding operatingsystem from each of the frame buffers and then determines whether todisplay the dedicated screen of a prescribed one of the operatingsystems on a screen of the display unit 151 under the control of themain processor 188.

Under the control of the main processor 188, the screen processor 185displays the dedicated screen of the specific operating system on thewhole screen of the display unit 151 (e.g., when implementing one modeonly). Alternatively, the screen processor 185 generates one integratedframe by combining and/or editing the frames received from the framebuffers and can then display an integrated dedicated screen includingall the dedicated screens of a plurality of the operating systems (e.g.,when implementing a plurality of the modes).

Referring to FIG. 3A, a plurality of the operating systems OS1, . . . OSN are prepared in parallel with each other, which can be described indetail with reference to FIG. 4A(a) and FIG. 4B as follows.

FIG. 4A(a) and FIG. 4B show a scheme of booting a plurality of operatingsystems Guest OS 1 and Guest OS 2 respectively supporting differentmodes in parallel by loading a hypervisor (hereinafter named a firstscheme).

Referring to FIG. 4A(a) and FIG. 4B, the mobile terminal 100 canimplement Guest OS 1 and Guest OS 2 selectively, sequentially orsimultaneously. In addition, a different mode can be designated to eachof the Guest OS 1 and the Guest OS 2. In this instance, the operation ofthe Guest OS 1 and the Guest OS 2 and the corresponding mode activationcan be performed by the hypervisor. The components shown in FIG. 4B canperform general operations related to the virtualization enginetechnology.

Multi-OS booting and mode activation corresponding to the multi-OSbooting are described in detail as follows. First of all, in case (1) ofactivating a mode corresponding to the currently booted Guest OS 1 orGuest Os 2 or in case (2) of booting the Guest OS 1 corresponding tofirst mode and the Guest OS 2 corresponding to a second modesequentially or simultaneously, the controller 180 (particularly, thehypervisor) implements and activates either the first mode or the secondmode (2-1) or can activate either the first or second mode despiteimplementing both of the first and second modes (2-2).

Referring now to FIG. 3, the screen processor 185, includes a layoutmanager 185 a and a display driver 185 b (FIG. 3B). Under the control ofthe main processor 188, the layout manager 185 a generates oneintegrated frame by combing or editing the frames received from theframe buffers and the display driver 185 b then controls the framegenerated by the layout manager 185 a to be displayed on the displayunit 151.

The driver 186 controls the entire operating systems to be driven. Thehypervisor 187 is a middleware between the main processor 188 and eachof the operating systems and includes a virtualization engine configuredto a plurality of the operating systems to be usable in the mobileterminal 100 according to the present invention. In addition, the mainprocessor 188 controls all operations related to the driving of aplurality of the operating systems according to the present invention.

As mentioned in the above description, the screen processor 185, thedriver 186, the hypervisor 187 and the main processor 188 can beincluded in the controller 180 or can be stored as software in thememory 160.

FIG. 3C is a block diagram of the memory 160 having a database storageregion corresponding to each of a plurality of the modes.

According to the present invention, the mobile terminal can manage thedatabase storage regions of a plurality of the modes discriminatively.In particular, when a plurality of the modes are implemented by thedifferent operating systems, respectively, the mobile terminal canmanage the database storage regions of a plurality of the modesdiscriminatively.

Generally, when at least one operating system capable of implementing afirst mode and a second mode is provided, the memory 160 is ale to storean application corresponding to each of the at least one operatingsystem. Therefore, the provided at least one or more operating systemscan be booted selectively or simultaneously under the control of thecontroller 180.

For instance, the operating system can include such a commercial OS asAndroid OS, Linux based OS, Windows Mobile OS, Apple OS and the like. Inaddition, a dedicated application can be differently set for each of theoperating systems. In addition, a multi-OS can include different kindsof operating systems (e.g., Android OS, Apple OS, etc.) and the samekinds of operating systems (e.g., 2.1 version of Android OS, 2.2 versionof Android OS, etc.) differing from each other in version.

According to the present invention, assuming that both of the first modeand the second mode can be implemented, the memory 160 can include afirst database storage region 160(a) corresponding to the first mode, asecond database storage region 160(b) corresponding to the second mode,and a common database storage region 160(c) in common with the firstmode and the second mode. Occasionally, the common database storageregion 160(c) can be omitted. In this instance, a commonly-designatedapplication and content or data associated with the correspondingapplication can be stored in the database storage region of thecorresponding mode.

In particular, in configuring the first, second and common databasestorage regions, the mobile terminal 100 uses memories different fromeach other in hardware as the storage regions, puts restriction onaccessing the storage regions per mode despite providing the storageregions within a same memory, or can discriminate the storage regionsfrom each other using a storage partition per mode.

In this instance, the same operating system implements the first modeand the second mode or different operating systems can implement thefirst mode and the second mode, respectively. Moreover, at least two ormodes can be implemented by the mobile terminal 100. If so, the databasestorage regions can be further subdivided.

In particular, the first database storage region 160(a) can include aregion (i.e., a first application region) for storing at least one firstapplication executable in the first mode, a region (i.e., a firstcontent region) for storing a content associated with the firstapplication and a region (i.e., a first data region) for storing dataassociated with the first application.

In addition, the second database storage region 160(b) can include aregion (i.e., a second application region) for storing at least onesecond application executable in the second mode, a region (i.e., asecond content region) for storing a content associated with the secondapplication and a region (i.e., a second data region) for storing dataassociated with the second application.

Moreover, the common database storage region 160(c) can include a region(i.e., a common application region) for storing at least one commonapplication executable in both of the first mode and the second mode, aregion (i.e., a common content region) for storing a content associatedwith the common application and a region (i.e., a common data region)for storing data associated with the common application.

When the second mode is a business mode that facilitates a user's publiclife, information stored in the second database storage region 160(b)and information corresponding to the second mode in the common databasestorage region 160(c) can be utilized only if the correspondinginformation is stored in a manner of being shared with a company server300, the corresponding information is stored in the company server 300(i.e., the second database storage region 160(b) is unnecessary) or thecompany server 300 is accessed. In this instance, the company server 300can include a server of a company, for which a user works, a server of aspecific company designated by a user (or a company where the userworks), or the like.

While the first mode is activated, the mobile terminal 100 can utilizethe information stored in the first database storage region 160(a) andthe information corresponding to the first mode in the common databasestorage region 160(c). While the second mode is activated, the mobileterminal 100 can utilize all the information stored in the first, secondand common database storage regions 160(a), 160(b) and 160(c).

Alternatively, while the second mode is activated, the mobile terminal100 can utilize the information stored in the first database storageregion 160(a) and the information corresponding to the second mode inthe common database storage region 160(c). While the first mode isactivated, the mobile terminal 100 can utilize all the informationstored in the first, second and common database storage regions 160(a),160(b) and 160(c).

Optionally, it can control the mobile terminal 100 not to utilize theinformation on the first mode while the activated second mode.

Besides, although the drawing shows that the application region, thecontent region and the data region are situated in the database storageregion, the application region, the content region and the data regioncan be integrated together if necessary.

FIG. 4A(b) and FIG. 4C show a scheme of driving a hypervisor on a HostOS for supporting one mode to boot a Guest OS for supporting anothermode (hereinafter named a second scheme). In particular, a modesupported by the Host OS can include a private mode. In addition, a modesupported by the Guest OS can include a business mode.

In more particular, referring to FIG. 4C, a B2B manager can perform aswitching operation between a private mode (hereinafter abbreviated a Pmode) and a business mode (hereinafter abbreviated a B mode). Componentsshown in a P mode region of the two regions partitioned by a dotted linecan operate when the private mode implementation, components shown inthe B mode region can operate when the business mode implementation, andcomponents included in both of the modes can operate in both of themodes.

According to the present invention, the mobile terminal 100 canimplement a plurality of modes on an operating system selectively,simultaneously or sequentially. A different operating system(hereinafter named an individual operating system) is designated to eachof a plurality of the modes or a common operating system can bedesignated to a plurality of the modes. Specifically, implementation ofa plurality of the modes can be controlled by the hypervisor 187.

In particular, a currently implemented or activated mode in accordancewith an individual or common operating system is defined as follows. Forclarity and convenience of the following description, assume that aplurality of modes include a first mode and a second mode. Of course, atleast two or more modes can exist if necessary.

First of all, when a common operating system is booted, the controller180 implements and activates either the first mode or the second mode(1) or can activate either the first mode or the second mode despiteimplementing both of the first and second modes.

When an individual operating system is booted, the controller implementsand activates a mode corresponding to a currently booted individualoperating system (1), implements and activates a mode corresponding toone of he first mode and the second mode when booting a first operatingsystem corresponding to the first mode and a second operating systemcorresponding to the second mode sequentially or simultaneously (2-1),or activates either the first mode or the second mode despiteimplementing both of the first mode and the second mode (2-2).

In the following description, how to discriminate a plurality of modesfrom each other is explained in detail.

First of all, according to the present invention, each of a plurality ofmodes can be discriminated by at least one of a mode indicator, adatabase storage region, an operating system, a user access authority,an application configuration, a content configuration, a dataconfiguration, an application feature, an application group, a groupidentifier and the like.

A case of discriminating a plurality of modes using a mode indictoraccording to a first embodiment is explained as follows.

First of all, each of a plurality of modes can have an indicatordifferent to indicate a corresponding mode. An indicator per mode isbasically stored in the mobile terminal 100 or can be downloaded from anexternal server or an external terminal. The indicator per mode is setor selected by a user or can be randomly set by the controller 180.

For instance, each of a plurality of the modes can have a different oneof a mode icon, a mode image, a background image, a backgroundcolor/brightness, a letter font/color/size, a home screen picture(number of pages and page indicator included), an applicationarrangement structure (e.g., the number of applications included in onehome screen, etc.), an application identifier, an LED color, an alarmsound such as a bell sound and the like, a keypad type (backlight colorof keypad included), a mode switching key zone, a group identifier(described later) and the like. Of course, those examples of the modeindicator are just exemplary and can include all display elements fordiscriminating a mode.

This is explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5D. Forclarity and convenience of the following description, assume that afirst mode and a second mode include a private mode and a business mode,respectively. In addition, assume that either the private mode or thebusiness mode is in an active state.

FIGS. 5A to 10C are diagrams for discriminating a plurality of modesaccording to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5A, if a personal mode is currently activated, themobile terminal 100 can display an icon (P mode) 501 corresponding tothe private mode on a prescribed region of a screen (FIG. 5A(a)). If abusiness mode is currently activated, the mobile terminal 100 candisplay an icon (B mode) 502 corresponding to the business mode on aprescribed region of a screen (FIG. 5A(b)).

Referring to FIG. 5B, the mobile terminal 100 includes a mode switchingkey region 510 provided to a prescribed region of the screen. If theprivate mode is currently activated, the mobile terminal 100 candiscriminatively display a zone (P) 511 corresponding to the privatemode in the mode switching key region 510 (FIG. 5B(a)). If the businessmode is currently activated, the mobile terminal 100 candiscriminatively display a zone (B) 512 corresponding to the businessmode in the mode switching key region 510 (FIG. 5B(b)).

Referring to FIG. 5C, a private mode zone 521, a business mode zone 522and a switching command zone 523 are provided to the screen of themobile terminal 100. If the private mode is currently activated, themobile terminal 100 can discriminatively display the private mode zone(P) 521 (FIG. 5C(a)). If the business mode is currently activated, themobile terminal 100 can discriminatively display the business mode zone(B) 522 (FIG. 5C(b)).

Referring to FIG. 5D, if the private mode is currently activated, themobile terminal 100 can display an announcement window 531 forannouncing events (e.g., email, message, call, etc.) occurring inassociation with the business mode or the number of the events (or,occurrence time, counterpart information, etc.) on a prescribed regionof the screen (FIG. 5D(a). If the business mode is currently activated,the mobile terminal 100 can display an announcement window 532 forannouncing events (e.g., email, message, call, etc.) occurring inassociation with the private mode or the number of the events (or,occurrence time, counterpart information, etc.) on a prescribed regionof the screen (FIG. 5D(b)).

In the following description, a case of discriminating a plurality ofmodes using a database storage region according to a second embodimentis explained.

First of all, a plurality of the modes can discriminatively havedatabase storage regions within the memory 160, respectively (cf. FIG.3C).

Each of a plurality of the modes can utilize the information stored inthe corresponding database storage region or the correspondinginformation stored in the common database storage region only. Moreover,it can set the information on one mode not to be utilized in othermodes. Besides, one (e.g., business mode) of a plurality of the modescan utilize information on another mode (e.g., private mode), whereasthe latter mode can be set not to use the information on the formermode.

If the information on the first mode can be utilized in the second mode(yet, the first mode is unable to utilize the information on the secondmode), it can be said that an access restriction is put on the secondmode or that a higher security level is set on the second mode(described later).

This is explained in detail with reference to FIGS. A to 7B as follows.For clarity and convenience of the following description, assume that afirst mode and a second mode include a private mode and a business mode,respectively. Assume that either the private mode or the business modeis in an active state. In addition, assume that a common application ofthe first and second modes is currently executed.

Referring to FIG. 6A, when a phonebook (example of a common application)is being executed in the private mode, the mobile terminal 100 extractscounterpart information corresponding to the private mode fromcounterpart information associated with the phonebook only and can thendisplay the extracted counterpart information.

Referring to FIG. 6B, when executing a phonebook in the private mode,the mobile terminal 100 extracts counterpart information correspondingto the business mode from counterpart information associated with thephonebook and then displays the extracted counterpart information (FIG.6B(a)). Alternatively, the mobile terminal 100 extracts counterpartinformation corresponding to either the private mode or the businessmode and can then display the extracted counterpart information (FIG.6B(b)).

In particular, FIG. 6B(b) shows when a zone (All) 603 is activated. If aprivacy zone (P) 601 is activated, the mobile terminal 100 canselectively display the counterpart information corresponding to theprivate mode only. If a business zone (B) 602 is activated, the mobileterminal 100 can selectively display the counterpart informationcorresponding to the business mode only.

Referring to FIG. 7A, when a schedule management (example of a commonapplication) is being executed in the private mode, the mobile terminal100 extracts schedules corresponding to the private mode from schedulesassociated with the schedule management only and can then display theextracted schedules.

Referring to FIG. 7B, when executing a schedule management in theprivate mode, the mobile terminal 100 extracts schedules correspondingto the business mode from schedules associated with the schedulemanagement and then displays the extracted schedules (FIG. 7B(a)).Alternatively, the mobile terminal 100 extracts schedules correspondingto either the private mode or the business mode and can then display theextracted schedules (FIG. 7B(b)).

In particular, FIG. 7B(b shows when a zone (All) 703 is activated. If aprivacy zone (P) 701 is activated, the mobile terminal 100 canselectively display the schedules corresponding to the private modeonly. If a business zone (B) 702 is activated, the mobile terminal 100can selectively display the schedules corresponding to the business modeonly.

Specifically, referring to FIGS. 6A to 7B, although the private mode isunable to access the information on the business mode or the databasestorage region storing the information on the business mode, thebusiness mode can freely access the information on the private mode orthe database storage region storing the information on the private mode.

According to a third embodiment, each of a plurality of modes can bediscriminated by a corresponding user access authority. For clarity andconvenience of the following description, assume that a plurality of themodes include a first mode and a second mode.

Regarding each of a plurality of the modes, as a different securitylevel is set, a user access authority can be changed (1). Regarding eachof a plurality of the modes, if an access restriction is put on one modebut an access restriction is not put on the other mode, a user accessauthority can be changed (2).

For this, in order to enter a specific one of a plurality of the modes,an authentication procedure can be requested. Hence, the specific modecan be entered only if a valid authentication procedure is performed toenter the specific mode. In particular, if an access restriction or asecurity level over a predetermined reference is put on the specificmode, an authentication procedure can be requested.

For instance, in a mode having a high user access authority, informationcorresponding to a mode having a low user access authority or a databasestorage region of the corresponding information is freely accessed andcan be freely utilized. On the contrary, in a mode having a low useraccess authority, it is unable to access information corresponding to amode having a high user access authority or a database storage region ofthe corresponding information.

When entering or switching to a mode having a high user accessauthority, an input of a user authentication information is requested.If a valid user authentication information is inputted, the mobileterminal 100 can enter or switch to the mode having the high user accessauthority (example of an authentication procedure). When a mode having alow security level, the mobile terminal 100 is requested to input a userauthentication information (e.g., name, social security number, etc.) ofa low level. When a mode having a high security level, the mobileterminal 100 is requested to input a user authentication information(e.g., name, social security number, specific touch pattern, specificpassword, etc.) of a high level.

Regarding management (e.g., input, inquiry, editing, etc.) ofinformation (e.g., content, data, etc.) on an application in accordancewith a user access authority, three kinds of cases are described indetail as follows. For clarity and convenience of the followingdescription, assume that a plurality of modes include a first mode and asecond mode.

First of all, according to a first case, there can exist applications towhich contents or data can be inputted regardless of a mode. Forinstance, the content or data inputtable application can include such anapplication for performing a basic function in using a terminal as aschedule management, a scheduler, an email, a message, a messenger, aconference call, a video call, an internet, a phonebook and the like.

According to a second case, like the first case, an information input ispossible without mode discrimination. Yet, it can discriminate adatabase storage region per mode (cf. FIG. 3C).

In particular, inter-mode information exchange is impossible butunilateral information exchange is possible. For instance, aninformation transfer from a private mode to a business mode is possiblebut an information transfer from a business mode to a private mode isimpossible. For another instance, by setting a plurality of modes todifferent security levels, respectively, an information transfer from alow level to a high level is possible but an information transfer from ahigh level to a low level is impossible.

When a specific situation, an external terminal having a predeterminedauthority in a remote place deletes information (e.g., application,content, data, etc.) on a specific mode only or can shut down thespecific mode itself. For instance, the specific situation can includeone of when an employee takes out a terminal without authorization, whena terminal is stolen, when a unregistered storage medium is loaded in aterminal, when a terminal accesses an unsubscribed network, and thelike.

Furthermore, regarding a user access authority, it can differentiate anauthority for accessing an application, a content, a data or the like,which is available for a business mode, in accordance with a user level(e.g., the user level is determined in consideration of rank in company,duty attribute in company, department in company, etc.) of the mobileterminal 100. In addition, it is also able to differentiate a functionfor a specific application. For instance, when a user level (e.g., agroup head) is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference, anapproval grant function is usable. Yet, when a user level (e.g., acompany employee) is lower than a predetermined reference, an approvalgrant function is deactivated. Moreover, the same application can have ausable content/data that differs in accordance with a user level or thesame content/data can have a different range of the provided informationin accordance with a user level (e.g., a different data field can beconfigured in accordance with a user level). Besides, in accordance witha user's authority, an icon associated with a job failing to belong tothe corresponding authority is not displayed on a terminal itself Evenif the icon is displayed on the terminal, it can be set not to beexecuted.

According to a third case, there can exist application (e.g., dedicatedapplications) accessible to corresponding information as well asoperable in either a first mode or a second mode.

For instance, for security matters in a business mode, a photographingfunction is restricted, a conditional access to a network is granted, ora print function is blocked. When the business mode, a business relatedapplication is provided. When a private mode, the business relatedapplication may not be provided. Of course, when the private mode, aprivacy related application is provided. When the business mode, theprivacy related application may not be provided.

Meanwhile, there can exist a content or application specialized in aunilateral mode only. For instance, the application specialized for thebusiness mode can include a company business related application. Inaddition, the company business related application can perform afunction of an upload to a company server, a function of a download tothe company server and the like.

In addition, it can put an access restriction (or entry) per mode inaccordance with a place or time. For instance, it can set a businessmode not to be entered at home. For another instance, it can set aprivate mode not to be entered on a specific time zone. Occasionally, aseparately authorized person can enter the business mode at home or theprivate mode at office on a specific time zone.

Moreover, since an interface is provided to be shared with users in thebusiness mode, information can be shared with the users. If the businessmode is switched to the private mode, the interface provided for theinformation sharing can be shut down.

Furthermore, there can exist one hardware module (e.g., a common module)usable for a plurality of modes in common or another hardware module(e.g., a dedicated module) usable for a specific one of a plurality ofthe modes. Hence, if a first mode is currently activated, a commonmodule and a dedicated mode of the first mode are activated, while adedicated module of a second module is not activated. In this instance,the common module and the dedicated module are designated in accordancewith a user selection or can be designated by a decision made by thecontroller 180 or the company server 300.

For instance, assuming that a first mode and a second mode are a privatemode and a business mode, respectively, a common module can include oneof a mobile communication module 112 for call and message transmissionand reception, a power supply unit 190, a display unit 151, a memory 160and the like. A dedicated module of the private mode can include one ofa camera 121, a position location module 115 and the like. In addition,a dedicated module of the business mode can include a projector module155 or the like. The above examples of the communication module and thededicated module are just exemplary, by which the communication moduleand the dedicated module are non-limited. In addition, the communicationmodule and the dedicated module can be configured in more various ways.

In the following description, a user access authority is explained indetail with reference to FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B. For clarity andconvenience of the following description, assume when the same contentis accessed.

Referring to FIG. 8A, when a document 1 (example of content) is accessedin a private mode, the mobile terminal 100 can grant ‘read authority’for the document 1 (FIG. 8A(a)). When a document 1 is accessed in abusiness, the mobile terminal 100 can grant ‘read authority, deleteauthority, edit authority’ for the document 1 (FIG. 8A(b)). Moreover, ifa user is authorized over a predetermined level in a company, anapproval authority can be granted to the user for the document 1 thatrequires approval or authorization.

Referring to FIG. 8B, when a file 1 (example of content) correspondingto a business mode is selected from a file list in a private mode (FIG.8B(a)), the mobile terminal 100 informs a user that there is no accessauthority on the file 1 and enables the user to select whether to switchthe private mode to the business mode to check the file 1 (FIG. 8B(b)).

Of course, when the private mode in FIG. 8B, a file corresponding to thebusiness mode may not be included in the file list. In addition, it candisplay an indictor, which indicates that the file corresponds to theprivacy/business mode, on the file list.

Although the user access authority is set per mode in the abovedescription, it can be set per application, content or data ifnecessary. Therefore, a user authorized with the user access authoritycan check the same content, whereas an unauthorized user is unable tocheck the same content.

According to a fourth embodiment, each of a plurality of modes can bediscriminated in accordance with at least one of an applicationconfiguration, a content configuration and a data configuration.

Each of a plurality of the modes can configure an application differentper mode. Even if an application is a common application, each of aplurality of the modes can configure a content or data corresponding tothe application differently.

In this instance, if the configuration of the application is different,it means that at least one application (hereinafter named a firstdedicated application) dedicated to a first mode and at least oneapplication (hereinafter named a common application) in common with thefirst mode and a second mode are executed in the first mode or it canmean that at least one application (hereinafter named a second dedicatedapplication) dedicated to the second mode and at least one application(hereinafter named a common application) in common with the first modeand the second mode are executed in the second mode (cf. FIG. 10C).

If the configuration of the content/data is different, it can includeboth when a substance of the content/data is different and when asubstance of the content/data is different in part. Specifically, thelatter case can mean that a substance of a specific contentcorresponding to each of the first mode and the second mode is differenteven if the specific content is designated to both of the first mode andthe second mode. This is enabled in a manner of configuring a data fielddifferent per mode for the same content or data.

This is explained in detail with reference to FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B asfollows.

Referring to FIG. 9A, in storing the same counterpart information, themobile terminal 100 designates different contacts 911 and 921 anddifferent emails 912 and 922 to a private mode and a business mode,respectively, further designates a blog address 913 and a birthdayinformation 914 to the private mode, and further designates an approvalauthority 923, a rank 924 and a department 925 to the private mode.

Referring to FIG. 9B, in storing the same schedule, even if a contentand participant information 931 and a content and participantinformation 941 are identically designated to a private mode and abusiness mode, respectively, the mobile terminal 100 can furtherdesignate a time information 932 to the private mode and is also able tofurther designate a conference room information 942 and a notification943 to the business mode.

The mobile terminal 100 can set a keypad type different per mode (FIG.10A) or can set a time zone different per mode (FIG. 10B). The mobileterminal 100 can set a different application and a different backuplevel of information associated with the application per mode. Forinstance, the mobile terminal 100 backs up information of a recent weekin the private mode and is also able to back up information of a recentmonth or real-time information in the business mode. Of course, thebackup level per mode is set by a user or can be randomly set by thecontroller 180.

In particular, in the business mode, if a counterpart terminal is not inthe business mode or a working hour (or a holiday) currently inconsideration of a status (e.g., a currently activated mode, a currentlocation, a time zone, etc.) of the counterpart terminal, with which themobile terminal 100 currently attempts to contact, the mobile terminal100 informs a user of the unavailability of the counterpart terminal toenable the user to select whether to make a contact. In doing so, themobile terminal 100 can receive information indicating the status of thecounterpart terminal from the counterpart terminal or a company serverand can then obtain the status of the counterpart terminal using thereceived information.

In the business mode, it can modify all previously-stored schedules tobe fitted to a currently belonging time zone by reflecting a currenttime zone (for when a time zone is changed).

When there is no user input action made for a predetermined period oftime in the business mode, it can lock or shut down the business modeautomatically or in accordance with a user selection. In this instance,in order to unlock the locked state or cancel the shutdown, a userauthentication information corresponding to the business mode isinputted or an authentication should be granted by the company server.Moreover, in the business mode, when an overseas roaming function isloaded on a user terminal, if a current location of a user is domestic,the overseas roaming function is automatically deactivated. If a currentlocation of a user is overseas, the overseas roaming function can beautomatically activated.

According to a fifth embodiment, when at least one common application isexecuted, each of a plurality of modes can vary its feature tocorrespond to a currently activated mode. In other words, when aspecific application is a common application of a first mode and asecond mode, the feature of the specific application can vary inaccordance with whether the currently activated mode is the first modeor the second mode.

In this instance, if a feature varies per mode, it can mean that aconfiguration (e.g., a corresponding content/data configurationincluded), display or security of an application is varied.

For instance, if a feature varies per mode, it ca mean that a structure(e.g., configuration of a corresponding menu item) of an application, anexecuted screen (e.g., background image, letter type, letter size,provided information, etc.) of an application, a configuration ofcontent/data associated with an application (cf. FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B), anapplication function, a security of an application (or, content, data,etc.) or the like is different per mode. Of course, as the examples ofthe application features are just exemplary, any case of configuring acommon application to be different per mode is applicable to the presentembodiment.

For instance, when the application function is different, aphotographing function is allowed to a camera in a private mode but maynot be allowed in a business mode. For another instance, when anauthority of access to an application is different, a phonebook providesa counterpart name, a phone number and a personal email address in aprivate mode and can further provide a company email address, a rank, adepartment and an approval authority information in a business mode.

This is explained in detail with reference to FIG. 10C as follows. Forclarity and convenience of the following description, assume that aplurality of modes include a private mode and a business mode.

Referring to FIG. 10C, the mobile terminal 100 can receive an input ofan execution command signal for executing a phonebook (i.e., an exampleof a common application) from a user.

The mobile terminal 100 determines a mode activated at the input timingpoint of the execution command signal. If a private mode is currentlyactivated, the mobile terminal 100 executes the phonebook in accordancewith a feature corresponding to the private mode and then displays anexecuted screen of the phonebook (cf. FIG. 6A or FIG. 9A(a)). On thecontrary, if a business mode is activated, the mobile terminal 100executes the phonebook in accordance with a feature corresponding to thebusiness mode and then displays an executed screen of the phonebook (cf.FIG. 6B or FIG. 9A(b)).

For instance, when a security of an application is different isexplained as follows. First of all, when attempting to execute a commonapplication in a first mode, an authentication procedure is notrequested or a low-level security set authentication information needsto be inputted. Yet, when attempting to execute a common application ina second mode, an authentication procedure is requested or a high-levelsecurity set authentication information should be inputted. In doing so,the application execution can include an output of content or dataassociated with the application as well as an executed screen display ofthe application.

According to a sixth embodiment, a plurality of modes can bediscriminated from each other using user information corresponding tothe modes, respectively. In this instance, the user information caninclude a user name (or title), a user image, a user phone number, auser email address, a user blog address and the like.

For instance, first and second user information different from eachother can be set for first and second modes, respectively. Inparticular, when a first phone number and a second phone number (e.g.,dual SIM) are assigned to the mobile terminal 100, the first phonenumber and the second phone number can be set for the first mode and thesecond mode, respectively.

In the above description, the definitions of the modes mentioned in thedisclosure are explained. In addition, when a plurality of modes exist,the method of discriminating a plurality of the modes is explained aswell.

According to a seventh embodiment, each of a plurality of modes can bediscriminated by an application group including at least one applicationexecuted in the corresponding mode.

For instance, when at least one application is executable in each of aplurality of modes, the controller 180 can configure an applicationgroup including executable application(s) per mode. Moreover, theapplication group can be configured in accordance with an applicationtype as well as the corresponding mode. For example, if an applicationtype is a call, call related applications are included in thecorresponding application group. If an application type is a camera,camera related applications can be included in the correspondingapplication group.

Moreover, the mobile terminal 100 displays a per-mode group identifiercorresponding to a per-mode application group on the screen. If aspecific group identifier is selected, the mobile terminal 100 candisplay indicators of applications belonging to the correspondingapplication group or can switch a current mode to a mode correspondingto the specific group identifier (assuming that it is not a currentlyactivated mode).

In the following description, when a plurality of modes exist, how toswitch one mode to another mode is explained in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 11 is a first flowchart for a method of controlling a modeswitching in a mobile terminal according to the present invention. Forclarity and convenience of the following description, assume that aplurality of modes include a first mode and a second mode. While both ofthe first and second modes are implemented, assume that the first orsecond mode is selectively activated by a mode switching. In addition,an application executable in both of the first and second modes can benamed a common application. Moreover, an application executable ineither the first mode or the second mode can be named a dedicatedapplication.

Referring to FIG. 11, while a first mode and a second mode areimplemented, the mobile terminal 100 activates the first mode under thecontrol of the controller 180 (S1110). In doing so, if an operatingsystem is designated per mode, the controller 180 can implement thefirst mode and the second mode using a first individual operating systemand a second individual operating system (i.e., a first OS and a secondOS in multi-OS) corresponding to the first mode and the second mode,respectively. If an operating system per mode is common, the controller180 can implement the first mode and the second mode using a commonoperating system (i.e., a single OS).

In the first mode activating step S1110, when executing a commonapplication, the mobile terminal 100 can execute the common applicationin accordance with a feature corresponding to the first mode. Forinstance, when the first mode and the common application are a privatemode and a phonebook, respectively, the mobile terminal 100 can displaya counterpart information list including counterpart informationassociated with the private mode or a specific counterpart informationincluding a data field corresponding to the private mode.

In the following description, a mode implemented when OS booting permulti-Os type (cf. FIGS. 4A to 4C) is explained with reference to FIG.12A and FIG. 12B.

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B are flowcharts of a process for switching a modeper type in multiple operation systems according to the presentinvention. In particular, FIG. 12A corresponds to a first multi-OS type(e.g., Guest OS 1 and Guest OS 2 included: This type corresponds to afirst scheme). In addition, FIG. 12B can correspond to a second multi-OStype (e.g., Host OS and Guest OS: This type corresponds to a secondscheme.). Assume that Guest OS 1 and Host OS correspond to a privatemode. In addition, assume that Guest OS 2 and Guest OS correspond to abusiness mode.

Referring to FIG. 12A, if the hypervisor included in the controller 180is driven (S1201), the mobile terminal 100 can boot Guest OS 1 and GuestOS 2 simultaneously or sequentially (S1202, S1203).

As the hypervisor is driven, the mobile terminal 100 enables thevirtualized device drivers of the Guest OS 1 and the Guest OS 2 tointeract with physical drivers as a preparing operation for controllinghardware (S1204) and the performs an isolating operation of the sharedvirtualized device drivers (S1205).

If a specific one of a private mode and a business mode is selected by auser or the controller 180 (S1206), the mobile terminal 100 activatesthe specific mode on the Guest OS corresponding to the selected specificmode and can then execute applications (private mode_Private, businessmode_Business) in the activated mode (sequential execution of S1207 toS1209 or sequential execution of S1212 to S1214).

Meanwhile, when the specific mode selecting step S1206 is omitted, themobile terminal 10 can activate the private mode using the Guest OS 1designated as default (S1207 to S1209).

Referring to FIG. 12B, the mobile terminal 100 preferentially boots theHost OS corresponding to the private mode (S1251) and can then preloadthe Guest OS corresponding to the business mode (S1253), under thecontrol of the controller 180.

The mobile terminal 100 activates the private mode on the Host OS andcan then execute the applications in the private mode (sequentialexecution of the step S1254 to S1256). When the Guest OS preloaded bythe hypervisor is booted (S1257), the mobile terminal 100 activates thebusiness mode on the Guest OS and can then execute the applications inthe business mode (sequential execution of the steps S1259 to S1261).

Meanwhile, when post-loading the Guest OS, if the hypervisor is drivento load the Guest OS (S1257), the mobile terminal 100 can post-load theGuest OS (S1258).

In doing so, when preloading the Guest OS, an initial OS booting takes aconsiderable time. Yet, since two operating systems are already bootedafter completion of the booting, a mode switching can be quicklyperformed. When post-loading the Guest OS, an initial OS booting isquickly performed. Yet, when switching a current mode to a modecorresponding to the Guest OS, it may take a considerable time for amode switching due to the time consumption attributed to the Guest OSbooting.

The Guest Os loading process is described in detail as follows. First ofall, the mobile terminal 100 downloads an application corresponding tothe Guest OS from a server for managing and providing applications,executes the downloaded application, and can then load the Guest OS.Subsequently, as the loaded Guest OS is booted, the mobile terminal 100can execute the corresponding applications using the Guest OS.

Referring now to FIG. 11, in the activating step S1110, the mobileterminal 100 can activate either the first mode or the second mode inaccordance with a user selection or a prescribed reference when anoperating system booting, under the control of the controller 180.

For instance, when the single OS, any one of the first and second modescan be activated in accordance with the single OS booting. For anotherinstance, when the multi-OS, a mode selected by a user from the firstmode and the second mode or a firstly booting completed one of the firstmode and the second mode is activated in accordance with thesimultaneous booting of the multi-OS or a mode corresponding to thepreferentially booted OS in accordance with the sequential booting ofthe multi-OS can be activated.

In particular, when the sequential booting of the multi-OS, the mobileterminal 100 can preferentially boot the OS, which meets a prescribedcondition, under the control of the controller 180. For instance, thecontroller 180 can preferentially boot the OS that meets one of theconditions such as an OS having a preferential booting order, an OSdesignated by a user to be preferentially booted and an OS supporting amode corresponding to a current terminal status. The mode correspondingto the current terminal status shall be explained in detail in thefollowing description.

Referring now to FIG. 11, the mobile terminal 100 detects a signal for amode switching in the activated state of the first mode under thecontrol of the controller 180 (S1120). In particular, the controller 180can further include a separate component configured to detect ageneration of the signal for the mode switching or can includecomponents different from each other in accordance with signal types.

For instance, the signal for the mode switching can be generated in atleast one of a case of an input of a mode switching command signal, whena current terminal location belongs to a specific place corresponding tothe second mode, when a current hour belongs to a specific timecorresponding to the second mode, a case of transceiving data with acounterpart terminal corresponding to the second mode and a case of anaccess to a specific network corresponding to the second mode. Moreover,when there are a plurality of switching target modes, the signal for themode switching can be discriminated for each of a plurality of theswitching target modes. For instance, designation information on theswitching target mode is included in the mode switching command signalor corresponding place, corresponding time, corresponding counterpartterminal and corresponding network can be designated per switchingtarget mode to the mode switching command signal in a manner of beingdiscriminated.

When detecting a signal for a mode switching, the mobile terminal 100may not switch to a second mode (Case 1), or can switch to the secondmode (Case 2). In the following description, Case 1 and Case 2 areseparately described.

First of all, Case 1 (i.e., not switching to the second mode) isdescribed in detail as follows.

First of all, while a signal for a mode switching is detected, if themobile terminal 100 does not switch to a second mode (No in the stepS1130), the mobile terminal restricts a function execution of a specificone of at least one or more applications runnable in the first modeunder the control of the controller 180 (S1140).

If the controller 180 fails in receiving an input of a mode switchingcommand signal from a user or performing an authentication procedurevalidly (e.g., applicable to when an authentication procedure isrequired for switching to the second mode), the controller 180 may notbe able to switch to the second mode despite the detection of the signalfor switching to the second mode.

This is described in detail with reference to FIGS. 13A to 13C asfollows. For clarity and convenience of the following description,assume that a first or second mode is a private or business mode.

Referring to FIG. 13A, when detecting a signal for a switching to aprivate mode in an activated state of a business mode, the mobileterminal 100 can display a window 1310 for enabling a user to selectwhether to switch to the private mode (FIG. 13A(a)).

In this instance, the signal for the switching to the private mode canbe generated in one of when a current terminal location belongs to aplace designated to activate the private mode, when a current hourbelongs to a time designated to activate the private mode, when aterminal currently accesses a network designated to the private mode,and the like. Moreover, when a current terminal status is unable to meeta business mode activated state (e.g., when the terminal gets out of aplace designated to activate the business mode, etc.), the signal forthe switching to the private mode can be generated.

On the contrary, when detecting a signal for a switching to a businessmode in an activated state of a private mode, the mobile terminal 100can display a window 1310 for enabling a user to select whether toswitch to the business mode (FIG. 13A(b)).

In this instance, the signal for the switching to the business mode canbe generated in one of when a current terminal location belongs to aplace (e.g., a company, etc.) designated to activate the business mode,when a current hour belongs to a time (e.g., duty hours, etc.)designated to activate the business mode, when a terminal currentlyaccesses a network (e.g., intra-network of company, etc.) designated tothe business mode, and the like. Moreover, when a current terminalstatus is unable to meet a private mode activated state (e.g., when theterminal gets out of a place designated to activate the private mode,etc.), the signal for the switching to the private mode can begenerated.

When receiving a selection of a mode switching rejection (Reject) fromthe user in FIG. 13A(a) or FIG. 13A(b), the controller 180 may notswitch a current mode to the private mode or the business mode.

Referring to FIG. 13B, when detecting the signal for the switching tothe business mode in the private mode activated state, the mobileterminal 100 can request an authentication procedure execution (FIG.13B(a)). If the corresponding authentication procedure is not validlyperformed (e.g., a user authentication information is not inputted or avalid user authentication information is not inputted, etc.), the mobileterminal 100 may not switch the private mode to the business mode.

Referring to FIG. 13C, if the mobile terminal 100 does not switch to theprivate mode despite the detection of the signal for the switching tothe private mode (i.e., an example of the second mode), the mobileterminal 100 can display an announcement window for leading to theswitching to the private mode using the display unit 151, under thecontrol of the controller 180.

For instance, in the announcement window, a text for requesting theswitching to the private mode to a user, a command key (or zone) forswitching to the private mode, a warning text for announcing that anapplication execution can be partially restricted when absence of theswitching to the private mode and/or the like can be included.

The announcement window can be displayed at a random timing point orperiodically. In addition, a display timing point or cycle of theannouncement window is randomly determined by the controller or can bedetermined in accordance with a user selection.

Referring now to FIG. 11, in the restricting step S1140, the controller180 informs a user of a specific application, of which executionfunction is restricted, using the display unit 151. Alternatively, thecontroller 180 may identifiably display a specific application, of whichexecution function is restricted in an application indicator displayedstate, using the display unit 151 or may not.

This is described in detail with reference to FIGS. 14A to 14D asfollows.

Referring to FIG. 14A, when maintaining a business mode activated stateinstead of switching to a private mode, when an application dedicated toa business mode among applications runnable in the business mode isprohibited from running, the mobile terminal 100 provides a list of thededicated applications prohibited from running (FIG. 14A(a)).Alternatively, the mobile terminal 100 blurs to display dedicatedapplication indicators 1404, 1406, 1407 and 1408 among a plurality ofapplication indicators 1401 to 1409 indicating applications runnable inthe business mode or can display the dedicated application indicators1404, 1406, 1407 and 1408 in a manner of indicating that the dedicatedapplication indicators 1404, 1406, 1407 and 1408 are in disabled ornon-selectable state (FIG. 14A(b)).

Referring to FIG. 14B, when maintaining a private mode activated stateinstead of switching to a business mode, when an application dedicatedto a private mode among applications runnable in the private mode isprohibited from running, the mobile terminal 100 provides a list of thededicated applications prohibited from running (FIG. 14B(a)).Alternatively, the mobile terminal 100 blurs to display dedicatedapplication indicators 1414, 1416, 1417 and 1418 among a plurality ofapplication indicators 1411 to 1419 indicating applications runnable inthe private mode or can display the dedicated application indicators1414, 1416, 1417 and 1418 in a manner of indicating that the dedicatedapplication indicators 1414, 1416, 1417 and 1418 are in disabled ornon-selectable state (FIG. 14B(b)).

Besides, it can provide a list of applications differing from each otherin per-mode application feature, per-mode content configuration orper-mode data configuration, or it can identifiably display anapplication indicator indicating the same.

Referring to FIG. 14C, when maintaining the business mode activatedstate instead of switching to the private mode, the mobile terminal 100does not display the dedicated application indicators 1404, 1406, 1407and 1408 indicating the dedicated applications of the business mode atall (FIG. 14C(a)). On the contrary, when maintaining the private modeactivated state instead of switching to the business mode, the mobileterminal 100 does not display the dedicated application indicators 1414,1416, 1417 and 1418 indicating the dedicated applications of the privatemode at all (FIG. 14C(b)).

Referring to FIG. 14D, when maintaining the business mode activatedstate instead of switching to the private mode, and vice versa, themobile terminal 100 can run a basic application for performing a basicterminal operation among applications runnable in the business mode andcan then indicate basic application indicators 1401 to 1403 respectivelyindicating the basic applications only.

For instance, the basic applications can include a phonebook, a voicecall, a message and the like. Of course, the basic applications arerandomly determined by the controller 180 or can be determined inaccordance with a user selection.

Referring now to FIG. 11, in the restricting step S1140, the controller180 prohibits a specific application from running if the specificapplication having a function restricted from running is an applicationrunnable in the first mode only (Case 1). Alternatively, if a specificapplication is an application runnable in both of the first mode and thesecond mode, the mobile terminal 100 allows a running of the specificapplication but puts a restriction on information provided in accordancewith the execution (Case 2). Specifically, in association with Case 1,the mobile terminal 100 can disable a module related to the specificapplication running. For instance, for the private mode, the disabledmodule can include one of a camera module and the like. For the businessmode, the disabled mode can include one of a printer module and thelike.

In the restricting step S1140, the mobile terminal 100 can prohibit therunning of the rest of applications except a basic application forsupporting a basic terminal operation among at least one or moreapplications runnable in the first mode under the control of thecontroller 180 (cf. FIG. 14D).

This is described in detail with reference to FIGS. 15A to 15F asfollows.

Referring to FIG. 15A, when maintaining the business mode activatedstate instead of switching to the private mode, the mobile terminal 100can receive an input of a selection action {circle around (1)} for aprint indicator 1406 (i.e., example of a dedicated applicationindicator) or a selection action {circle around (2)} for a phonebookindicator 1401 (i.e., example of a common application) from a user.

Referring to FIG. 15B, when receiving the input of the selection action{circle around (1)} in FIG. 15A, the mobile terminal 100 can display awindow for announcing that the application ‘print’ indicated by theprint indicator 1406 is the dedicated application of the business modeand is not runnable.

Referring to FIG. 15C, when receiving the selection action {circlearound (2)} in FIG. 15A, the mobile terminal runs the application‘phonebook’ indicated by the phonebook indicator 1401 and then providesa private counterpart information selected from counterpart information,which include a counterpart information (hereinafter named a privatecounterpart information) associated with the private mode and acounterpart information (hereinafter named a business counterpartinformation) associated with the business mode, only (FIG. 15C(a)). Whenproviding a specific counterpart information, the mobile terminal 100may not provide an information (e.g., a business contact information, abusiness email address, an approval authority, a class of one'sposition, a department, etc.) corresponding to a data field included inthe business only among data fields configuring the specific counterpartinformation.

Moreover, in FIG. 15C, it can provide a counterpart information on whicha conditional access or a security level is not set (FIG. 15C(a)). Inaddition, it may be able to provide an information corresponding to adata field, on which a conditional access or a security level is notset, in the specific counterpart information (FIG. 15C(b)).

Referring to FIG. 15D, when maintaining the private mode activated stateinstead of switching to the business mode, the mobile terminal 100 canreceive an input of a selection action {circle around (1)} for thecamera indicator 1414 (i.e., example of a dedicated applicationindicator) or an input of a selection action {circle around (2)} (i.e.,example of a common application indicator) for the schedule managementindicator 1419 from a user.

Referring to FIG. 15E, when the selection action {circle around (1)} inFIG. 15D, the mobile terminal 100 can display a window for announcingthat the application ‘camera’ indicated by the camera indicator 1414 isthe dedicated application of the private mode and is not runnable.

Referring to FIG. 15F, when receiving the selection action {circlearound (2)} in FIG. 15D, as the mobile terminal 100 runs the application‘schedule management’ indicated by the schedule management indicator1419, it can provide a schedule that can be provided in the private modeonly (FIG. 15F(a)) or can provide a specific schedule corresponding tothe private mode. Moreover, in FIG. 15F, a schedule, on which aconditional access or a security level is set, among schedules providedin the private mode may not be provided (FIG. 15F(a)) or an informationcorresponding to a data field, on which a conditional access or asecurity level is set, among data fields configuring the specificschedule may not be provided (FIG. 15F(b)).

Referring now to FIG. 11, in the restricting step S1140, if the mobileterminal 100 is running a specific application at a timing point offailing to switch to the second mode, the mobile terminal 100 terminatesthe running of the specific application if the specific application isthe application runnable in the first mode only (Case 1). Alternatively,if the specific application is the application runnable in both of thefirst mode and the second mode, the mobile terminal 100 maintains therunning of the first mode but can restrict an information according tothe running from being provided (Case 2).

This is described with reference to FIGS. 16A to 16C as follows.

Referring to FIG. 16A, while running a dedicated application ‘documentread/search’ in a business mode activated state (FIG. 16A(a)), if thebusiness mode activated state is maintained instead of switching to aprivate mode, the mobile terminal 100 can terminate the ‘documentread/search’ by announcing that there is not use authority for the‘document read/search’ (FIG. 16A(b)).

In doing so, the document provided through the ‘document read/search’can be provided by the company server 300. In this instance, althoughthe ‘document read/search’ is not a dedicated application, if the‘document read/search’ is terminated (1) or a conditional access or asecurity level is set on a document among documents provided by thecompany server 300 (2), the reading and search for the correspondingdocument can be restricted.

Thus, while outputting or searching for a content provided by thecompany server 300 in the business mode (or running an applicationassociated with the content), if the business mode activated state ismaintained instead of switching to the private mode, as the access tothe company server 300 is disconnected, any content is not provided fromthe company server. Alternatively, a content, on which a conditionalaccess or a security level is not set, can be limitedly provided fromthe company server 300.

Referring to FIG. 16B, while running the common application ‘schedulemanagement’ in the business mode activated state (FIG. 16B(a)), if thebusiness mode activated state is maintained instead of switching to theprivate mode, the mobile terminal 100 can provide private schedulesamong private schedules and business schedules, which can be provided inthe business mode, only (FIG. 16B(b)). In doing so, the schedule, onwhich the security level or the conditional access is not set, among thebusiness schedules can be provided together with the private schedule.In addition, the schedule, on which the security level or theconditional access is set, among the private schedules may not beprovided.

Referring to FIG. 16C, while running the dedicated application ‘camera’in the private mode activated state (FIG. 16C(a)), if the private modeactivated state is maintained instead of switching to the business mode,the mobile terminal 100 can terminate the ‘camera’. In this instance, anoperation of a camera mode required for running the ‘camera’ can beterminated as soon as the ‘camera’ is terminated.

In the following description, the case (2) of switching to the secondmode is explained in detail.

First of all, when switching to the second mode according to thedetection of the signal for the mode switching (Yes in the step S1130),the mobile terminal 100 activates the second mode under the control ofthe controller 180 (S1150). In doing so, the first mode can bedeactivated.

Moreover, when attempting to switch to the second mode, the mobileterminal 100 can perform an authentication procedure for the secondmode. If the authentication procedure is validly performed, the mobileterminal can successfully switch to the second mode. For instance, ifthe authentication procedure is successfully performed, it can mean thefollowing. First of all, a user authentication information is inputtedby a user. Secondly, it is determined whether the inputted userauthentication information is valid. Finally, the inputted userauthentication information should be valid as a result of thedetermination.

When the signal for the mode switching is detected, the mobile terminal100 can determine whether a conditional access is set on the second modeto switch to (1) or whether a security level set on the second mode ishigher than a security level set on the first mode (2), under thecontrol of the controller 180. For instance, if the first mode is set tothe private mode and the mode to switch to is the business mode, thecontroller 180 can determine that the conditional access is set on thebusiness mode or that the security level set on the business mode ishigher.

Moreover, if the conditional access is set on the second mode or thesecurity level higher than that of the first mode is set on the secondmode, the controller 180 can perform the authentication procedure forthe second mode.

Meanwhile, the inputted user authentication information includes theuser authentication information set to be dedicated to the second modeor the user authentication information necessary in common for the modeswitching instead of being limited by the second mode.

Moreover, the user authentication information can be set different inaccordance with the conditional access level (or security level) of thesecond mode. For instance, when the conditional access level is high,the user authentication information can become complicated. For anotherinstance, when the conditional access level is low, the userauthentication information can become simple.

When the second mode is entered multiple times, the controller 180 canrequest a user authentication information different for each entry andcan then receive an input of a user authentication information at thetiming point of the corresponding entry into the second mode.

When the authentication procedure for the switching (or entry) to thesecond mode is successful, another authentication procedure can beomitted when r a re-switching (or re-entry) to the second mode. Forinstance, when a re-switching for a predetermined period of time (e.g.,duty hours, a day, a week, etc.), the corresponding authenticationprocedure can be omitted. For another instance, when a re-switching fora period from terminal-on to terminal-off, the correspondingauthentication procedure can be omitted. Moreover, even if the secondmode is in the activated state, it can request the authenticationprocedure execution in a predetermined time cycle. This is to maintainthe second mode activated state.

The controller 180 can determine a level of the conditional access seton the second mode. For instance, a prescribed one of a plurality ofconditional access levels can be set on the second mode. In accordancewith the conditional access level set on the second mode, a usableapplication (or content/data) can differ and a use authority range forthe application can vary.

Moreover, when detecting the signal for the mode switching, the mobileterminal 100 outputs a mode switching indication information via theoutput unit 150 under the control of the controller 180. When receivinga mode switching command action via the user input unit 130, the mobileterminal 100 can switch the first mode to the second mode under thecontrol of the controller 180.

For instance, the mode switching indication information can include aninformation indicating a status that a mode switching is currentlyrequested and an information enabling a user to select a mode switching.The mode switching indication information can be outputted in variousways using a text, an image, a voice, a vibration, an alarm sound andthe like. In addition, the mode switching command action is inputted bya manipulation of a zone/key/button for receiving an input of a modeswitching command or can be inputted when a detection of a voice, aterminal motion (e.g., an inclination in a predetermined direction, apredetermined number of shakings, etc.) or the like.

Meanwhile, the mode switching indication information can stop beingoutputted if the mode switching command action is not inputted by a userfor a predetermined period of time.

The second mode activating step S1150 can refer to the description ofthe first mode activating step S1110.

In the activating step S1150, if the common application is activated,the mobile terminal 100 can execute the common application in accordancewith the feature corresponding to the second mode. For instance, if thefirst mode is the business mode and the common application is theschedule management, the mobile terminal 100 displays a schedule listincluding schedules related to the business mode or can display aspecific schedule including data field(s) corresponding to the businessmode.

In the following description, a mode switching in a multi-OS environmentis explained with reference to FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B.

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B are flowcharts of a process for switching a modeper type in multiple operation systems according to the presentinvention;

Referring to FIG. 12A, while the private mode or the business mode isactivated, if a commend signal of a mode switching is detected (S1210 orS1215), the mobile terminal 100 activates the business mode by drivingthe hypervisor for the Guest OS 2 (execution of the step S1211 and thesteps following the step S1211) or can activate the private mode bydriving the hypervisor for the Guest OS 1 (execution of the step S1216and the steps following the step S1216).

Referring to FIG. 12B, while the private mode or the business mode isactivated, I a command signal of the mode switching is detected (S1262or S1263), the mobile terminal activates the business mode or theprivate mode.

In particular, referring to FIG. 12A or FIG. 12B, when the business modeis switched to the private mode, if there exists an applicationpreviously executed in the private mode, the mobile terminal 100 canenter the executed state S1209 or S1256 of the previously executedapplication. If an application previously executed in the private modedoes not exist, the mobile terminal 100 can enter the state HOME S1207of the Guest OS 1 or the state HOME S1254 of the Host OS. This isapplicable to the switching to the business mode from the private mode.

When the second mode previously switched in the switching step S1130 isswitched again to the first mode that is the mode previous to the modeswitching (i.e., when returning to the previous mode), if a specificapplication is being executed in the first mode before the switching tothe second mode, as the second mode is re-switched to the first mode,the controller 180 is ale to re-execute the specific application (inaccordance with a user selection or automatically). In doing so, anexecuted screen of the specific application can include a generalinitial screen in accordance with an execution of the specificapplication or an executed screen at the shutdown timing point due tothe switching to the second mode.

In the following description, when receiving an input of a modeswitching command signal from a user as a specific event for generatinga signal for a mode switching, a corresponding mode switching process isexplained with reference to FIGS. 17A to 18D. For clarity andconvenience of the following description, assume that a first mode and asecond mode are a private mode and a business mode, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 17A, while a private mode is activated, if a userselects a switching zone 503, the mobile terminal 100 can receive aninput of a mode switching command signal for a switching to a businessmode (FIG. 17A(a)). On the contrary, while a business mode is activated,if a user selects the switching zone 503, the mobile terminal 100 canreceive an input of a mode switching command signal for a switching to aprivate mode (FIG. 17A(b)).

Referring to FIG. 17B, while a private mode is activated, if a touch &drag to a P zone 511 from a B zone 512 of a mode switching command key510 is received, the mobile terminal 100 can receive a mode switchingcommand signal for a switching to a business mode (FIG. 17B(a)). On thecontrary, while a business mode is activated, if a touch & drag from a Pzone 511 to a B zone 512 of a mode switching command key 510 isreceived, the mobile terminal 100 can receive a mode switching commandsignal for a switching to a private mode (FIG. 17B(b)).

In FIG. 17B(a, when receiving a touch action on the B zone 512, a modeswitching command signal for a switching to the business mode can beinputted. In FIG. 17B(b, when receiving a touch action on the P zone511, a mode switching command signal for a switching to the private modecan be inputted.

Referring to FIG. 17C, while a private mode is activated, if a touch &drag action from a business mode zone 522 to a switching command zone523 is inputted, the mobile terminal 100 can receive an input of a modeswitching command signal for a switching to a business mode (FIG.17C(a)). On the contrary, while a business mode is activated, if a touch& drag action from a private mode zone 521 to a switching command zone523 is inputted, the mobile terminal 100 can receive an input of a modeswitching command signal for a switching to a private mode (FIG.17C(b)).

In FIG. 17C(a, when receiving an input of a touch action on the businessmode zone 522, the mobile terminal 100 can receive a mode switchingcommand signal for a switching to the business mode. In FIG. 17C(b),when receiving an input of a touch action on the private mode zone 521,the mobile terminal 100 can receive a mode switching command signal fora switching to the private mode.

Referring to FIG. 17D, while a private mode is activated, when detectinga 1-time terminal shaking 1 or receiving an input of a touch & dragaction 2 in a right direction using a multi-pointer, the mobile terminal100 can receive an input of a mode switching command signal for aswitching to a business mode (FIG. 17D(a)). When detecting a 2-timesterminal shaking 1 or receiving an input of a touch & drag action 2 in aleft direction using a multi-pointer, the mobile terminal 100 canreceive an input of a mode switching command signal for a switching tothe private mode (FIG. 17D(b)).

Moreover, in FIGS. 17A to 17D, the mobile terminal 100 can output a text1710 or 1720 indicating the mode switching Of course, in order toindicate the mode switching, a voice, an image, an icon, a vibration, abell sound, a lamp and/or the like can be variously outputted.

Referring to FIG. 17E, while a private mode (or a business mode) isactivated, when receiving an input of a touch & drag action of apinch-in type from a user (a), The mobile terminal 100 partitions thescreen into a first region 1731 and a second region 1732 and thendisplays a home screen corresponding to the private mode and a homescreen corresponding to the business mode on the first region 1731 andthe second region 1732, respectively (b).

When receiving a touch action 1 on a prescribed point of the secondregion 1732 or a touch & drag action 2 from a prescribed point of thesecond region 1732 to a prescribed point of the first region 1731 inFIG. 17E (b), the mobile terminal 100 can receive an input of a modeswitching command signal for a switching to the business mode.

Referring to FIG. 18A, assuming that a plurality of business modes(e.g., first to third business modes) exist, when receiving an input ofa user touch action on a switching zone 503 while a private mode isactivated, the mobile terminal 100 displays first to third images 1801to 1803 respectively corresponding to the first to third business modes(FIG. 18A(a)) or can display first to third drag directions 1811 to 1813respectively corresponding to the first to third business modes (FIG.18A(b)). For instance, the first to third images 1801 to 1803 caninclude a home screen image of the corresponding business mode, abackground image and the like.

If the first image 1801 is selected in FIG. 18A(a, the mobile terminal100 receives an input of a mode switching command signal for a switchingto the first business mode. When receiving an input of a touch & dragaction in the second drag direction 1812 in FIG. 18A(b, the mobileterminal 100 can receive an input of a mode switching command signal fora switching to the second business mode.

Referring to FIG. 18B, while the private mode (or the business mode) isactivated, when receiving an input of a user touch action on theswitching zone 503, the mobile terminal 100 can display the images 1821to 1823 respectively corresponding to a plurality of the business modesand the images 1831 to 1833 respectively corresponding to a plurality ofthe private modes on the region 1820 and the region 1830, respectively.

If a user selects the image 1821 corresponding to the first businessmode, the mobile terminal 100 can receive an input of a mode switchingcommand signal for a switching to the first business mode.

Although the case of receiving the input of the mode switching commandsignal using the switching zone 503 is only described with reference toFIG. 18A and FIG. 18B, the corresponding description is applicable to acase of using a switching command key 510 or a mode zone 521 or 522.

Referring to FIG. 18C, while a screen is locked (i.e., lock screenstate), the mobile terminal 100 partitions the screen into a first zone1840 and a second zone 1850 and can then display an information on anevent occurring in association with a private mode and an information onan event occurring in association with a business mode on the firstregion 1840 and the second region 1850, respectively. In particular, themobile terminal 100 can identifiably display a mode indicator 501corresponding to a currently activated private mode.

When receiving an input of a touch & drag action to the second region1850, the mobile terminal 100 can receive an input of a mode switchingcommand signal for a switching to the business mode.

Referring to FIG. 18D, when configuring a plurality of private modes anda plurality of business modes, the mobile terminal 100 partitions thescreen into regions 1860 to 1890 amounting to the number of total modesin the lock screen state and can then display the corresponding modeindicators 1861 to 1891 on the regions 1860 to 1890, respectively. Inparticular, the mobile terminal 100 can identifiably display the modeindicator 1861 corresponding to the first private mode currentlyactivated. In addition, the mobile terminal 100 can further displayinformation (e.g., event type, event count, occurrence hour, etc.) on anevent occurring in association with the corresponding mode on each ofthe regions 1860 to 1890.

When receiving a user touch action on the mode indicator 1881corresponding to the first business mode (1) or a touch & drag action tothe zone 1880 corresponding to the first business mode (2), the mobileterminal 100 can receive an input of a mode switching command signal fora switching to the first business mode.

Therefore, when receiving the input of the mode switching commandsignal, as shown in FIGS. 17A to 18D, the mobile terminal 100 detectsthe signal for the mode switching and can then perform the modeswitching operation of the switching to the mode corresponding to theinputted mode switching command signal.

Meanwhile, it can vary an input type of the mode switching commandsignal corresponding to each of the private mode and the business mode.If a plurality of private modes (or business modes) exist, an input typeof a mode switching command signal can be varied per private mode. Forinstance, in order to perform the switching to the private mode, a2-times terminal shaking, a touch & drag in a left direction, a forwardterminal inclination or the like can be inputted. For another instance,in order to perform the switching to the business mode, a 1-timeterminal shaking, a touch & drag in a right direction, a backwardterminal inclination or the like can be inputted. For another instance,in order to perform the switching to the first private mode, a 1-timeterminal shaking can be inputted. For another instance, in order toperform the switching to the second private mode, a 2-times terminalshaking can be inputted. For a further instance, in order to perform theswitching to the third private mode, a 3-times terminal shaking can beinputted.

The above-described embodiments are just examples for inputting the modeswitching command signal, by which a scheme of inputting the modeswitching command signal is non-limited.

In the following description, when the mobile terminal 100 is located ata specific place as a specific event for generating a signal for a modeswitching, a mode switching process is explained with reference to FIGS.19A to 19D. For clarity and convenience of the following description,assume that a first mode and a second mode are a private mode (P mode)and a business mode (B mode), respectively.

FIGS. 19A to 19D are diagrams of a mode switching process when beinglocated at a specific place according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 19A, while a private mode is activated, if the mobileterminal 100 is located at a place (e.g., a company or office)corresponding to a business mode or within a predetermined radiuscentering on the corresponding place, the mobile terminal 100 enables auser to select whether to perform a switching to the business mode (FIG.19A(a)). Alternatively, the mobile terminal 100 automatically switchesthe private mode to the business mode irrespective of a presence ornon-presence of a user selection and can then output a switchingindication information indicating the switching to the business mode(FIG. 19A(b)).

Referring to FIG. 19B, when getting out of the place corresponding tothe business mode or the predetermined radius from the correspondingplace (i.e., example of a case of terminating a terminal operation ofgenerating the signal for the mode switching), the mobile terminal 100switches the business mode to the private mode in accordance with a userselection (FIG. 19B(a)) or can automatically switch the business mode tothe private mode irrespective of the user selection (FIG. 19B(b)).

In particular, in the case shown in FIG. 19A(a of FIG. 19A(b, the mobileterminal 100 can switch a current mode to the business mode or theprivate mode only if the user selects ‘Yes (switch)’,

Referring to FIG. 19C, the mobile terminal 100 can set at least oneplace corresponding to the private mode in accordance with a userselection (FIG. 19C(a)). While the business mode is activated, if themobile terminal 100 is located at the set place, the mobile terminal 100can switch the business mode to the private mode (FIG. 19C(b)).

Referring to FIG. 19D, the mobile terminal 100 can set at least oneplace corresponding to the business mode in accordance with a userselection (FIG. 19D(a)). While the private mode is activated, if themobile terminal 100 is located at the set place, the mobile terminal 100can switch the private mode to the business mode (FIG. 19D(b)).

Meanwhile, the mobile terminal 100 analyzes a mode use pattern perplace, determines an implementation time of the private/business modeper place for a predetermined period of time according to the analyzedpattern, and can then designate the private mode or the business mode.Therefore, when the mobile terminal 100 is located at a specific place,the mobile terminal 100 enters the mode designated to the specificplace. Alternatively, if another mode is being executed, the mobileterminal 100 can switch the currently executed mode to the modedesignated to the specific place.

In the following description, when a current hour belongs to a specifictime as a specific event of generating a signal for a mode switching, amode switching process is explained with reference to FIGS. 20A to 20D.For clarity and convenience of the following description, assume that afirst mode and a second mode are a private mode (P mode) and a businessmode (B mode), respectively.

FIGS. 20A to 20D are diagrams of a mode switching process when belongingto a specific time according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 20A, while a private mode is activated, if a currenthour belongs to a time (e.g., duty time: AM 09:00 to PM 06:00)corresponding to a business mode, the mobile terminal 100 enables a userto select whether to perform a switching to the business mode (FIG.20A(a)). Alternatively, the mobile terminal 100 automatically switchesthe private mode to the business mode irrespective of a presence ornon-presence of a user selection and can then output a switchingindication information indicating the switching to the business mode(FIG. 20A(b).

Referring to FIG. 20B, when the current hour deviates from the timecorresponding to the business mode (i.e., example of terminating aterminal operation of generating the signal for the mode switching), themobile terminal 100 switches the business mode to the private mode inaccordance with a user selection (FIG. 20B(a)) or can automaticallyswitch the business mode to the private mode irrespective of the userselection (FIG. 20B(b)).

In particular, in the case shown in FIG. 20A(a of FIG. 20A(b, the mobileterminal 100 can switch a current mode to the business mode or theprivate mode only if the user selects ‘Yes (switch)’,

Referring to FIG. 20C, the mobile terminal 100 can set at least one timecorresponding to the private mode in accordance with a user selection(FIG. 20C(a)). While the business mode is activated, if the current hourbelongs to the set time, the mobile terminal 100 can switch the businessmode to the private mode (FIG. 20C(b)).

Referring to FIG. 20D, the mobile terminal 100 can set at least one timecorresponding to the business mode in accordance with a user selection(FIG. 20D(a)). While the private mode is activated, if the current hourbelongs to the set time, the mobile terminal 100 can switch the privatemode to the business mode (FIG. 20D(b)).

Meanwhile, the mobile terminal 100 analyzes a mode use pattern per timezone, determines an implementation time zone of the private/businessmode for a predetermined period of time according to the analyzedpattern, and can then designate the private mode or the business mode.Therefore, when a current hour belongs to a specific time zone, themobile terminal 100 enters the mode designated to the specific timezone. Alternatively, if another mode is being executed, the mobileterminal 100 can switch the currently executed mode to the modedesignated to the specific time zone.

Moreover, the mobile terminal 100 may not perform the mode switchingusing the specific place or time on such a non-working day as Saturday,Sunday, holiday and the like. Besides, the mobile terminal 100 canchange a time zone corresponding to a specific mode to match a time zoneof a currently located country or area.

In the following description, when a specific network is accessed as aspecific event of generating a signal for a mode switching, a modeswitching process is explained with reference to FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B.For clarity and convenience of the following description, assume that afirst mode and a second mode are a private mode (P mode) and a businessmode (B mode), respectively.

FIG. 21A and FIG. 21B are diagrams of a mode switching process whenaccessing a specific network according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 21A, while a private mode is activated, if the mobileterminal 100 accesses a network corresponding to a business mode, themobile terminal 100 can switch the private mode to the business mode(FIG. 21A(a)). If the mobile terminal 100 is released from the access tothe network corresponding to the business mode (i.e., example ofterminating a terminal operation of generating the signal for the modeswitching), the mobile terminal 100 can switch the business mode to theprivate mode automatically or in accordance with a user selection (FIG.21A(b)).

The above description is applicable to when a network corresponding to aprivate mode is accessed in an activated state of a business mode. Anetwork per business/private mode is designated in accordance with auser selection. Alternatively, an in-company network and a home networkcan be automatically designated as a network per business/private mode.

Referring to FIG. 21B, while the private mode is activate, if an hour ofattending the office is recorded in an in-company attendance recodingserver, the mobile terminal 100 can switch the private mode to thebusiness mode in accordance with a user selection or automatically (FIG.21B(a)). If an hour of leaving the office is recorded, the mobileterminal 100 can switch the business mode to the private mode inaccordance with a user selection or automatically (FIG. 21B(b)).

In the following description, when a data is received from a specificcounterpart terminal as a specific event of generating a signal for amode switching, a mode switching process is explained with reference toFIGS. 22A to 23B. In the following description, when a data istransmitted to a specific counterpart terminal as a specific event ofgenerating a signal for a mode switching, a mode switching process isexplained with reference to FIGS. 24A to 25B. For clarity andconvenience of the following description, assume that a first mode and asecond mode are a private mode (P mode) and a business mode (B mode),respectively.

In this instance, the data can include such a data of any typereceivable from the counterpart terminal as a message, an audio call, avideo call, an email and the like.

In addition, the signal for the mode switching can include aninformation on a specific application executable in a second mode towhich a current mode will be switched. In particular, the information onthe application can include a counterpart information corresponding tothe counterpart terminal or a type of data transceived with thecounterpart terminal.

For instance, the counterpart information can include one of an emailaddress (specific application: email, etc.), a phonebook (specificapplication: message, audio call, video call, etc.), a user IDregistered with IMS (specific application: instant messaging service,etc.) and the like. In addition, the data type can include one of anemail, a message, an audio call, a video call, a conversation via IMSand the like.

Therefore, when the information on the specific application is includedin the signal for the mode switching, the controller 180 can execute thespecific application while switching the first mode to the second mode.

The counterpart terminal corresponding to the private mode or thebusiness mode can include a terminal of which counterpart information(e.g., home phone number, mobile phone number, email address, etc.) isstored in the phonebook in association with the private mode or thebusiness mode. Moreover, counterpart information on a counterpartdifferent per private/business mode can be designated. In addition, adifferent counterpart information (e.g., a different email address, adifferent phone number, etc.) on a same counterpart can be designatedper private/business mode.

FIGS. 22A to 23B are diagrams of a mode switching process when receivingdata from a specific counterpart terminal according to the presentinvention. In addition, FIG. 24A to 25B are diagrams of a mode switchingprocess when transmitting data to a specific counterpart terminalaccording to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 22A, while a private mode is activated, when receivingan email from a counterpart terminal corresponding to a business mode,the mobile terminal is ale to switch the private mode to the businessmode automatically or in accordance with a user selection (FIG. 22A(a)).As the private mode is switched to the business mode, the mobileterminal 100 executes an email application to check the substance of thereceived email (FIG. 22A(b). In this instance, the received email hasthe data structure shown in FIG. 26A and can include a field (From) 2601indicating a transmitting side terminal information and a field (To)2602 indicating a receiving side terminal information. Therefore, themobile terminal 100 can check the counterpart terminal corresponding tothe business mode using the counterpart terminal information included inthe field (From) 2601.

Referring to FIG. 22B, if the received email check is completed, themobile terminal 100 can switch the business mode to the private mode inaccordance with a user selection or automatically.

Referring to FIG. 23A, while a business mode is activated, whenreceiving an audio call from a counterpart terminal corresponding to aprivate mode, the mobile terminal 100 informs a user of the reception ofthe audio call and enables the user to select a ‘call’ or a ‘reject’(FIG. 23A(a)) or enables the user to select whether to perform aswitching to the private mode (FIG. 23A(b)).

Referring to FIG. 23B, if the call is selected in FIG. 23A(a or the ‘Yes(switch)’ is selected in FIG. 23A(b, the mobile terminal 100 switchesthe business mode to the private mode and can then connect the audiocall received from the counterpart terminal by executing a callapplication.

Referring to FIG. 23C, if the connected audio call is terminated, themobile terminal 100 can switch the private mode to the business modeautomatically or in accordance of a user selection.

Referring to FIG. 24 a, while a private mode is activated, when sendingan email having a recipient set to a counterpart (e.g., a company)corresponding to a business mode (FIG. 24A(a)), the mobile terminal 100switches the private mode to the business mode automatically or inaccordance of a user selection and can then execute an email applicationin accordance with a feature corresponding to the business mode (FIG.24A(b)). In doing so, using the counterpart information included in thefield (To) 2602 shown in FIG. 26A, it can check whether a receivingcounterpart of the sent email is the counterpart corresponding to thebusiness mode.

Referring to FIG. 24B, if the email sending is completed, the mobileterminal 100 can switch the business mode to the private mode.

Referring to FIG. 25 a, while a private mode is activated, when sendinga message having a recipient information set to a counterpartinformation (e.g., director XX) corresponding to a business mode (FIG.25A(a)), the mobile terminal 100 switches the private mode to thebusiness mode automatically or in accordance of a user selection and canthen execute a message application in accordance with a featurecorresponding to the business mode (FIG. 25A(b)). In doing so, using thecounterpart information included in the field (To) 2603 of the messagedata structure shown in FIG. 26B, it can check whether a receivingcounterpart of the sent message is the counterpart informationcorresponding to the business mode.

Referring to FIG. 25B, if the message sending is completed, the mobileterminal 100 can switch the business mode to the private mode.

Moreover, if an authentication procedure for entering a mode, to which acurrently implemented mode will be switched, is requested in FIGS. 19Ato 25B (e.g., if a conditional access is set on a mode to which acurrently implemented mode will be switched, or if a security levelhigher than that of a currently implemented mode is set on a mode towhich a currently implemented mode will be switched), the mobileterminal 100 receives an input of a user authentication information froma user. If the inputted user authentication information is valid, themobile terminal 100 can switch a currently activated mode (e.g., theprivate mode) to another mode (e.g., the business mode).

Meanwhile, although the first mode is switched to the second mode inaccordance with a detection of a signal for a mode switching, if a userinput action does not exist for a predetermined period of time, thesecond mode can be switched to the first mode again.

In addition, the embodiments relating to the switching to the specificmode in accordance with the detection of the signal for the modeswitching are applicable to the entry into the specific mode when theoperating system booting mentioned in the foregoing description. Forinstance, if a current terminal location is a specific placecorresponding to a specific mode or a current hour belongs to a specifictime corresponding to a specific mode, the specific mode can be enteredwhen an operating system booting.

Meanwhile, when first and second user information differing from eachother are set for a first mode and a second mode, respectively, if themobile terminal 100 detects a data transceiving through the second userinformation in an activated state of the first mode, the mobile terminal100 can switch the first mode to the second mode n accordance with auser selection or under the control of the controller 180. For instance,the first and second user information can include phone numbersdiffering from each other (e.g., case of dual SIM).

In the following description, when switching a mode while a specificapplication execution, a method of controlling an application executionis explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 27 is a second flowchart for a method of controlling a modeswitching in a mobile terminal according to the present invention. Forclarity and convenience of the following description, assume that aplurality of modes include a first mode and a second mode. In addition,assume that the first mode or the second mode is selectively activateddespite that both of the first and second modes are currentlyimplemented.

Referring to FIG. 27, the mobile terminal 100 implements a first modeand a second mode both under the control of the controller 180. Whilethe first mode is activated (S2710, which is identical to S1110 shown inFIG. 11), the mobile terminal 100 executes a specific application(S2720).

In this instance, the executed specific application can include anapplication (i.e., a first dedicated application) executed in a mannerof being dedicated to the first mode or an application (i.e., a commonapplication) executed in common with the first mode and the second mode.

The mobile terminal 100 detects a signal for a mode switching whileexecuting the specific application under the control of the controller180 (S2730, which is identical to S1120 shown in FIG. 11).

When detecting the signal for the mode switching, the mobile terminal100 determines whether the executed specific application is the commonapplication under the control of the controller 180 (S2740).

As a result of the determination, once it is determined that thespecific application is the common application, when not switching tothe second mode (No in the step S2750), the mobile terminal 100restricts a function execution of the specific application bymaintaining the activated state of the first mode under the control ofthe controller 180 (S2760).

The restricting step S2760 can refer to the former description orembodiments for the case of not switching to the second mode despite thedetection of the signal for the mode switching while running the commonapplication in the first mode.

Meanwhile, as a result of the determination, once it is determined thatthe specific application is the common application, when switching tothe second mode (Yes in the step S2750), the mobile terminal 100determines whether a version of the common applications differs in eachof the first mode and the second mode (S2770).

In this instance, if the version of the common application is different,it can mean that the first mode and the second mode differ from eachother in a feature of the common application.

As a result of the determining step S2770, if the first mode and thesecond mode differ from each other in the version (i.e., a first versionin the first mode and a second version in the second mode) (‘Yes’ in thestep S2770), the mobile terminal 100 stops executing the first versionof the specific application (S2771) and executes the second version ofthe specific application after activating the second mode (S2773) underthe control of the controller 180.

In particular, the mobile terminal 100 stops the execution of the commonapplication in accordance with the feature corresponding to the firstmode and can execute the common application in accordance with thefeature corresponding to the second mode.

On the contrary, as a result of the determining step S2770, if the firstmode and the second mode do not differ from each other in the version(‘No’ in the step S2770), the mobile terminal 100 activates the secondmode and maintains the execution of the specific application, which isexecuted in the first mode, in the second mode as it is, under thecontrol of the controller 180 (S2774).

In this instance, if the first mode and the second mode do not differfrom each other in the version (i.e., the same version), it can meanthat the common application is executed in each of the first mode andthe second mode with the same feature.

Referring now to the step S2740, as a result of the determination, if itis determined that the specific application is not the commonapplication (i.e., the specific application is a first dedicatedapplication), the mobile terminal 100 determines whether it is switchedto the second mode under the control of the controller 180 (S2791).

As a result of the above determination, if it is determined that it isnot switched to the second mode (No in the step S2791), the mobileterminal 100 terminates the specific application by maintaining thefirst mode activated state (S2792).

On the contrary, as a result of the above determination, if it isdetermined that it is switched to the second mode (Yes in the stepS2791), the mobile terminal 100 deactivates the first mode, activatesthe second mode, and then terminates the specific application (S2793).

Besides, although an authentication procedure for switching a currentmode to another mode is not explained in the description with referenceto FIG. 27, the corresponding part of the former description withreference to FIG. 11 is applicable to the embodiment shown in FIG. 27.

In the following description, a mode switching process while anexecution of a common application is explained with reference to FIG.28A and FIG. 29B.

FIG. 28A and FIG. 28B are diagrams of a process for switching a modewhile executing a common application according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 28A and FIG. 28B, while executing a phonebook inaccordance with a feature corresponding to a private mode, if the mobileterminal 100 receives an input of a user touch action on a switchingzone 503 (FIG. 28A(a)) or is located at a specific place correspondingto a business mode (e.g., example of a specific event for generating asignal for a mode switching) (FIG. 28A(b)), the mobile terminal 100switches the private mode to the business mode and can then execute thephonebook in accordance with a feature corresponding to the businessmode (FIG. 28B).

For instance, the phonebook in accordance with the feature correspondingto the private mode provides counterpart information corresponding tothe private mode only. In addition, the phonebook in accordance with thefeature corresponding to the business mode can provide counterpartinformation corresponding to the business mode or the private modesimultaneously or selectively.

In the following description, a mode switching process while anexecution of a dedicated application is explained with reference toFIGS. 29A to 29C.

FIGS. 29A to 29C are diagrams of a process for switching a mode whileexecuting a dedicated application according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 29A and FIG. 29B, if the mobile terminal 100 receivesan input of a user touch action on a switching zone 503 while executinga camera executable in a private mode only (FIG. 29A(a)) or is locatedat a specific place corresponding to a business mode (FIG. 29A(b)), themobile terminal 100 enables a user to select whether to end the camera(FIG. 29B).

If ‘Yes (end)’ is selected in FIG. 29B, the mobile terminal 100 switchesthe private mode to the business mode (FIG. 29C(a)). In addition, themobile terminal 100 can execute an application similar to the endedcamera if necessary (FIG. 29C(b)). For instance, the application similarto the camera can include one of a photo album, a gallery and the like.

Meanwhile, a plurality of modes mentioned in this disclosure canvariously include such a mode type as a religion mode, a hobby mode, aschool mode and the like as well as a private mode or a business mode.In addition, a plurality of modes can be set per type.

When an application executed per mode is determined in this disclosure,it can be designated in accordance with a user selection or can beautomatically designated to a corresponding mode in consideration ofproperty and type of the application. For instance, assuming that a modefield exists in a data structure of an application, the application canbe designated to a corresponding mode defined in the mode field.

In each of a plurality of modes mentioned in this disclosure, a userinterface associated with at least one of an audio based communicationand a text based communication can be provided via the display unit 151under the control of the controller 180. For instance, the audio basedcommunication includes one of an audio call, an audio based chatting andthe like. In addition, the text based communication can include one of amessage service, a text based chatting and the like. Moreover, the userinterface is displayed as a virtual key form on a touchscreen or can beprovided as a button key form. Besides, the user interfaces provided ina plurality of the modes can differ from each other in at least one ofposition, shape, size and the like.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, theabove-described mode switching controlling methods can be implemented ina program recorded medium as computer-readable codes. Thecomputer-readable media include all kinds of recording devices in whichdata readable by a computer system are stored. The computer-readablemedia include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tapes, floppy discs, opticaldata storage devices, and the like for example and also includecarrier-wave type implementations (e.g., transmission via Internet).

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile terminal, comprising: a communicationunit configured to communicate with at least one external terminal; amemory configured to store a first operating system acting in a firstmode and a second operating system acting in a second mode,respectively; and a controller configured to: execute the firstoperating system and activate the first mode corresponding to the firstoperating system, display a first information screen on a display unitcorresponding to the activated first mode, receive a switching signalindicating the first mode is to be switched to the second mode, inresponse to the switching signal, prompt a user to confirm the firstmode is to be switched to the second mode, attempt to switch to thesecond mode based on the confirmation of the user, prompt the user toconfirm an authentication process is to be performed for the secondmode, receive a failing signal indicating the second mode is notswitchable to the first mode based on the authentication process,restrict at least one specific application executing in the first modewhen the failing signal is received indicating the second mode is notswitched to the first mode, wherein the first mode is executed only withthe first operating system and the second mode is executed only with thesecond operation system, wherein the first mode is a private modecorresponding to applications executed in a user's personal life and thesecond mode is business mode corresponding to applications executed inthe user's business life, wherein the first mode includes a plurality offirst applications executable in the first mode and the second modeincludes a plurality of second applications executable in the secondmode, and wherein when the second mode is not switched to and the firstmode is maintained, the touchscreen display displays at least onespecific application included in the plurality of first applicationsthat is restricted from being executed in the maintained first mode. 2.The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first and second modes arediscriminated from each other by at least one of a mode indicator, adatabase storage region, a user access authority, a contentconfiguration, a data configuration and an application feature.
 3. Themobile terminal of claim 2, wherein when the first and second modesrespectively correspond to first and second database storage regions,the controller is further configured to prevent information stored inthe first database storage region from being used in the second mode andto prevent information stored in the second database storage region frombeing used in the first mode, or to prevent selective information storedin the first or second database storage regions from being used in thefirst or second modes.
 4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is further configured not to switch the first mode to thesecond mode when at least one of the switching signal is not receivedand an authentication procedure for the second mode is not validlyperformed.
 5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller isfurther configured to prohibit the execution of specific applicationsamong the plurality of first applications that can be executed in thefirst mode except a basic application supporting a basic terminalaction, when the attempt to switch to the second mode fails.
 6. Themobile terminal of claim 1, wherein if the attempt to switch to thesecond mode fails, the specific application is currently executing andthe specific application can only be executed in first mode, thecontroller is further configured to terminate the execution of thespecific application, and wherein if the currently executing specificapplication is executable in both of the first and second modes, thecontroller is further configured to restrict information provided by thecurrently executing specific application despite maintaining theexecuting of the first mode.
 7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, whereinif the attempt to switch to the second mode fails, the controller isfurther configured to control the display unit to display anannouncement window for announcing the second mode can not be switchedto and provide an option for again trying to switch to the second mode.8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein if the attempt to switch tothe second mode fails, the controller is further configured to controlthe display unit to display at least one or more application indicatorsindicating at least one or more applications that can be executed in thefirst mode or not to display at least one or more display applicationindicators indicating at least or more applications than can not beexecuted in the first mode.
 9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, whereinthe switching signal is generated in at least one of 1) when receivingan input of the switching signal, 2) when a current terminal location islocated within a specific place corresponding to the second mode, 3)when a current time belongs to a specific time corresponding to thesecond mode, 4) when transceiving data with a counterpart terminalcorresponding to the second mode, and 5) when accessing a specificnetwork corresponding to the second mode.
 10. The mobile terminal ofclaim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to switch back tothe first mode from the second mode by reactivating the first mode anddeactivating the second mode when a terminal operation corresponding tothe switching signal is terminated after switching to the second mode.11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein if information on thespecific application is included in the switching signal, the controlleris further configured to execute the specific application afterswitching to the second mode.
 12. A method of controlling a mobileterminal, the method comprising: allowing, via a communication unit ofthe mobile terminal, communication with at least one external terminal;storing, via a memory of the mobile terminal, a first operating systemacting in a first mode and a second operating system acting in a secondmode, respectively; executing, via a controller of the mobile terminal,the first operating system and activating the first mode correspondingto the first operating system; displaying, via a display unit of themobile terminal, a first information screen corresponding to theactivated first mode; receiving, via the controller, a switching signalindicating the first mode is to be switched to the second mode; inresponse to the switching signal, prompting, via the controller, a userto confirm the first mode is to be switched to the second mode;attempting, via the controller, to switch to the second mode based onthe confirmation of the user; prompting, via the controller, the user toconfirm an authentication process is to be performed for the secondmode; receiving, via the controller, a failing signal indicating thesecond mode is not switchable to the first mode based on theauthentication process; and restricting, via the controller, at leastone specific application executing in the first mode when the failingsignal is received indicating the second mode is not switched to thefirst mode, wherein the first mode is executed only with the firstoperating system and the second mode is executed only with the secondoperation system, wherein the first mode is a private mode correspondingto applications executed in a user's personal life and the second modeis business mode corresponding to applications executed in the user'sbusiness life, wherein the first mode includes a plurality of firstapplications executable in the first mode and the second mode includes aplurality of second applications executable in the second mode, andwherein when the second mode is not switched to and the first mode ismaintained, the method further comprises displaying at least onespecific application included in the plurality of first applicationsthat is restricted from being executed in the maintained first mode. 13.The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second modes arediscriminated from each other by at least one of a mode indicator, adatabase storage region, a user access authority, a contentconfiguration, a data configuration and an application feature.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein when the first and second modes respectivelycorrespond to first and second database storage regions, the methodfurther comprises preventing information stored in the first databasestorage region from being used in the second mode and preventinginformation stored in the second database storage region from being usedin the first mode, or preventing selective information stored in thefirst or second database storage regions from being used in the first orsecond modes.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising: notswitching, via the controller, the first mode to the second mode when atleast one of the switching signal is not received and an authenticationprocedure for the second mode is not validly performed.
 16. The methodof claim 12, further comprising: prohibiting, via the controller, theexecution of specific applications among the plurality of firstapplications that can be executed in the first mode except a basicapplication supporting a basic terminal action, when the attempt toswitch to the second mode fails.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein ifthe attempt to switch to the second mode fails, the specific applicationis currently executing and the specific application can only be executedin first mode, the method further comprises terminating the execution ofthe specific application, and wherein if the currently executingspecific application is executable in both of the first and secondmodes, the method further comprises restricting information provided bythe currently executing specific application despite maintaining theexecuting of the first mode.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein if theattempt to switch to the second mode fails, the method further comprisesdisplaying, via the display unit, an announcement window for announcingthe second mode can not be switched to and providing an option for againtrying to switch to the second mode.
 19. The method of claim 12, whereinif the attempt to switch to the second mode fails, the method furthercomprises displaying at least one or more application indicatorsindicating at least one or more applications that can be executed in thefirst mode or not displaying at least one or more display applicationindicators indicating at least or more applications than can not beexecuted in the first mode.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein theswitching signal is generated in at least one of 1) when receiving aninput of the switching signal, 2) when a current terminal location islocated within a specific place corresponding to the second mode, 3)when a current time belongs to a specific time corresponding to thesecond mode, 4) when transceiving data with a counterpart terminalcorresponding to the second mode, and 5) when accessing a specificnetwork corresponding to the second mode.
 21. The method of claim 12,further comprising: switching back to the first mode from the secondmode by reactivating the first mode and deactivating the second modewhen a terminal operation corresponding to the switching signal isterminated after switching to the second mode.
 22. The method of claim21, wherein if information on the specific application is included inthe switching signal, the method further comprises executing thespecific application after switching to the second mode.